Consolidated Grant Astronomy Observation and Theory 2022-2025
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Institute of Astronomy
Abstract
This consolidated grant proposal is to support leading research in theoretical and observational astronomy at the Institute of Astronomy (IoA), University of Cambridge.
On the largest scales, the proposal includes work to understand the origin and evolution of the Universe itself through analysis of precise observations of the cosmic microwave background with new ground-based telescopes, and signals from neutral hydrogen probing the era of cosmic dawn, when the first generation of stars and black holes reheated and reionized the cold and neutral post-recombination Universe, bringing the cosmic dark ages to an end.
The Universe today is filled with galaxies, of which our own Milky Way is a not atypical example. A full understanding of galaxy formation and evolution requires multiple lines of attack. Observations of the resolved stellar populations in the Milky Way and its Local Group companions provide a detailed fossil record of the dynamical assemblies of the galaxies, the formation of stars, and the buildup of heavy elements over a wide range of mass scales and initial conditions. Researchers at the IoA lead key parts of the data processing for the ESA Gaia space mission, which is performing a survey of the Milky Way with unprecedented precision and volume. Several projects in this proposal will exploit the forthcoming third data release from Gaia to understand the dynamics of the Galaxy and its companions. At the other end of the scale, observations of distant galaxies spanning lookback times of up to 12 billion years provide direct measurements of the evolution of galaxy populations and the buildup of stars and metals with cosmic time. The light from these first galaxies likely led to the reionization of hydrogen in the intergalactic medium, when the age of the Universe was less than one billion years. Modelling this process requires sophisticated hydrodynamical simulations, including radiative transfer effects, and is a further focus of this proposal.
It is now recognised that there is an intimate link between the evolution of galaxies and the origin and properties of super-massive black holes, which reside at the centre of the Milky Way and other galaxies. The regions close to black holes allow the exploration of physics at the extremes. The formation and properties of super-massive black holes and their relation to the galaxies will be explored in this grant with sophisticated computational simulations of merging galaxies.
On much smaller scales within galaxies, the grant focusses of the formation of planetary systems through theoretical modelling of the evolution of protoplanetary disks (exploiting high-resolution imaging with ALMA) and their associated debris disks, and on the atmospheres and geology of extrasolar planets.
On the largest scales, the proposal includes work to understand the origin and evolution of the Universe itself through analysis of precise observations of the cosmic microwave background with new ground-based telescopes, and signals from neutral hydrogen probing the era of cosmic dawn, when the first generation of stars and black holes reheated and reionized the cold and neutral post-recombination Universe, bringing the cosmic dark ages to an end.
The Universe today is filled with galaxies, of which our own Milky Way is a not atypical example. A full understanding of galaxy formation and evolution requires multiple lines of attack. Observations of the resolved stellar populations in the Milky Way and its Local Group companions provide a detailed fossil record of the dynamical assemblies of the galaxies, the formation of stars, and the buildup of heavy elements over a wide range of mass scales and initial conditions. Researchers at the IoA lead key parts of the data processing for the ESA Gaia space mission, which is performing a survey of the Milky Way with unprecedented precision and volume. Several projects in this proposal will exploit the forthcoming third data release from Gaia to understand the dynamics of the Galaxy and its companions. At the other end of the scale, observations of distant galaxies spanning lookback times of up to 12 billion years provide direct measurements of the evolution of galaxy populations and the buildup of stars and metals with cosmic time. The light from these first galaxies likely led to the reionization of hydrogen in the intergalactic medium, when the age of the Universe was less than one billion years. Modelling this process requires sophisticated hydrodynamical simulations, including radiative transfer effects, and is a further focus of this proposal.
It is now recognised that there is an intimate link between the evolution of galaxies and the origin and properties of super-massive black holes, which reside at the centre of the Milky Way and other galaxies. The regions close to black holes allow the exploration of physics at the extremes. The formation and properties of super-massive black holes and their relation to the galaxies will be explored in this grant with sophisticated computational simulations of merging galaxies.
On much smaller scales within galaxies, the grant focusses of the formation of planetary systems through theoretical modelling of the evolution of protoplanetary disks (exploiting high-resolution imaging with ALMA) and their associated debris disks, and on the atmospheres and geology of extrasolar planets.
Publications
Columba G
(2024)
Disk Evolution Study Through Imaging of Nearby Young Stars (DESTINYS): HD 34700 A unveils an inner ring
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Zagaria F
(2023)
Testing protoplanetary disc evolution with CO fluxes A proof of concept in Lupus and Upper Sco
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Desgrange C
(2023)
Planetary system architectures with low-mass inner planets Direct imaging exploration of mature systems beyond 1 au
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Curone P
(2023)
Radio multiwavelength analysis of the compact disk CX Tau: Presence of strong free-free variability or anomalous microwave emission
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bourne M
(2023)
Recent Progress in Modeling the Macro- and Micro-Physics of Radio Jet Feedback in Galaxy Clusters
in Galaxies
Booth M
(2023)
The clumpy structure of ? Eridani's debris disc revisited by ALMA
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Young S
(2024)
The eccentric Koza-Lidov mechanism as the cause of exocomet transits of KIC 8462852
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Marshall J
(2023)
Stirred but not shaken: a multiwavelength view of HD 16743's debris disc
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Zubeldia Í
(2023)
Mitigating the impact of the CIB on galaxy cluster SZ detection with spectrally constrained matched filters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Imaz Blanco A
(2023)
Inner edges of planetesimal belts: collisionally eroded or truncated?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society