A consolidated grant for Sheffield Astrophysics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The aim of this proposal is to support a programme of internationally excellent research in astrophysics at Sheffield, building on our recent research achievements, and tied to the exploitation of leading international facilities supported by STFC and UKSA.
Planned Impact
The main ways in which our research makes an impact outside the academic community is via our knowledge exchange and outreach activities. To summarise:
1. Knowledge exchange. This is primarily based on the building of the ULTRACAM instrument, which has led to the development of a new data acquisition system that is now used on a host of other instruments.
2. Outreach. Over the last three years members of the Sheffield astrophysics group have delivered more than 40 talks to schools and astronomical societies, 30 in-house master classes for school students, and several press releases, based on their research activities.
Details are given in our pathways to impact statement that is included as an attachment.
1. Knowledge exchange. This is primarily based on the building of the ULTRACAM instrument, which has led to the development of a new data acquisition system that is now used on a host of other instruments.
2. Outreach. Over the last three years members of the Sheffield astrophysics group have delivered more than 40 talks to schools and astronomical societies, 30 in-house master classes for school students, and several press releases, based on their research activities.
Details are given in our pathways to impact statement that is included as an attachment.
Organisations
Publications
Maxted PF
(2013)
Multi-periodic pulsations of a stripped red-giant star in an eclipsing binary system.
in Nature
Maíz Apellániz J
(2014)
The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XVI. The optical and NIR extinction laws in 30 Doradus and the photometric determination of the effective temperatures of OB stars?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
McAllister M
(2015)
PHL 1445: an eclipsing cataclysmic variable with a substellar donor near the period minimum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McAllister M
(2017)
Using Gaussian processes to model light curves in the presence of flickering: the eclipsing cataclysmic variable ASASSN-14ag
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McAllister M
(2017)
SDSS J105754.25+275947.5: a period-bounce eclipsing cataclysmic variable with the lowest-mass donor yet measured
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McCormac J
(2014)
A search for photometric variability towards M71 with the Near-Infrared Transiting ExoplanetS Telescope
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McEvoy C
(2015)
The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XIX. B-type supergiants: Atmospheric parameters and nitrogen abundances to investigate the role of binarity and the width of the main sequence?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Metchev S
(2013)
Clouds in brown dwarfs and giant planets
in Astronomische Nachrichten
Description | Key findings include the following: - First clear demonstration that molecules can be accelerated in fast shocks driven be relativistic jets in AGN. - Discovery that the cool ISM masses of the host galaxies of radio-loud AGN are relatively low, suggesting that the AGN are triggered in modest, rather than major mergers. - Ultracam observations of a pulsar orbiting a white dwarf leading to stringent tests of General Relativity. - Development of the ULTRASPEC instrument on the Thai National Telescope. - First accurate census of massive stars and their feedback effect in the key 30 Doradus star forming region - Substantially improved determination of the spatial distribution of Wolf Rayet stars in the Milky Way |
Exploitation Route | It is hoped that the results will be useful in outreach activities that inspire students in schools to become involved in science as a career, and also encourage an interest in science in older generations. |
Sectors | Education |
Description | The research results obtained over the period of the grant have informed an number of outreach/publish understanding events: - several talks to schools and amateur societies; - large-scale outreach events such as the "Sounds of the Cosmos" and "Back to the Future" events in Sheffield and elsewhere. |
First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |