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.

Publications

10 25 50
publication icon
Mingo B (2014) An X-ray survey of the 2 Jy sample - I. Is there an accretion mode dichotomy in radio-loud AGN? in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

publication icon
Miszalski B (2012) IC 4663: the first unambiguous [WN] Wolf-Rayet central star of a planetary nebula? IC 4663 in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

publication icon
Morganti R (2013) Tracing the extreme interplay between radio jets and the ISM in IC 5063 in Astronomy & Astrophysics

publication icon
Moulds V (2013) Finding exoplanets orbiting young active stars - I. Technique in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

publication icon
Nuttall L (2013) LARGE-SCALE IMAGE PROCESSING WITH THE ROTSE PIPELINE FOR FOLLOW-UP OF GRAVITATIONAL WAVE EVENTS in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series

publication icon
Ortiz JL (2012) Albedo and atmospheric constraints of dwarf planet Makemake from a stellar occultation. in Nature

publication icon
Pang X (2013) ON THE ORIGIN OF MASS SEGREGATION IN NGC 3603 in The Astrophysical Journal

publication icon
Parker R (2014) Dynamical evolution of star-forming regions in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

publication icon
Parker R (2012) The same, but different: stochasticity in binary destruction Stochasticity in binary destruction in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

publication icon
Parsons S (2013) A magnetic white dwarf in a detached eclipsing binary in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

 
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