Astrophysics Research at Liverpool John Moores University: Consolidated Grant Renewal

我们将继续通过观测和理论工作，在知识的前沿进行突破性的天体物理学研究。在恒星形成的标题下，我们将测试在银河系中心产生恒星的进化情景的预测，这有可能为此类研究开辟一个新的前沿。我们将找到最巨大恒星的原始诞生地，直接测试那些试图解释观测到的恒星质量分布的模型的预测。此外，我们将测量银河系大部分地区气体云转化为恒星的效率，从而对调节恒星形成的主要机制或环境因素产生第一个约束，从而为恒星形成的预测经验模型奠定基础。我们将利用英国对世界上最好的mm天文台ALMA的投资，我们将把英国在SCUBA-2和Herschel的重大投资转化为科学成果的国际领先地位。在时域天体物理学方面，我们将深入研究核心坍缩超新星爆炸（SNe Ib/c）的环境和热核超新星（SNe Ia）的祖先的鉴定。该项目利用了ARI超新星和新星群的专业知识，并利用了我们从中间帕洛玛瞬变工厂和其他设施获得数据的特权。我们将继续并扩大我们对伽马射线暴物理的研究，利用我们在快速跟踪，极化和MHD建模方面的世界领先能力。新的机器人望远镜、仪器和数据分析的结合将使我们能够研究新的瞬变类型，为英国在盖亚以外的时域天体物理学领域的领先地位奠定基础，进入LSST、SKA和引力波时代。在星系的结构和演化的标题下，我们将利用我们的新技术来测量Mpc距离上单个恒星的化学成分。因此，我们将测量附近星系的丰度模式，并提供本地宇宙中质量-金属丰度关系的最佳测量，这是星系形成和演化理论的关键诊断。该项目得到了主要国际天文台的大量时间奖励，是E-ELT MOS仪器科学案例的一部分。我们还将通过测量星系群和星系团的质量分布来研究星系的质量聚集。通过与最新的数值模型进行比较，这将回答有关星系恒星形成效率、重子质量分布和星系大小质量关系的关键问题。我们将通过整合最先进的星系形成模型，恒星演化和轨道分析技术，以及来自银河系恒星的尖端新调查（斯隆数字巡天的一部分）的数据，获得对银河系形成的新见解，LJMU将在其中发挥主导作用。我们还将使用星系和星系团的流体动力学模拟，为普朗克、REFLEX-II等调查做出预测。这将解决普朗克星团的计数差异和中微子自由流的可能性。我们将使用AGN反馈的新处方，用于最明亮的强大射电喷流，这在目前的模拟中是缺失的。我们所有的研究都使用最先进的地面望远镜、卫星和数据分析技术。反过来，ARI的工作人员用这些望远镜领导了许多新一代的调查。我们提出的项目在技术上要求很高，需要计算机软件支持来帮助科学的传播。ARI的结构和组织旨在提供国际上优秀的研究。ARI以开发和利用外联活动来使更广泛的人群参与STFC科学而闻名于世，我们的目标是加强这些活动。

We will continue to pursue ground-breaking astrophysical research at the forefront of knowledge through both observational and theoretical work.Under the heading of star formation, we will test the predictions of an evolutionary scenario for producing stars in the Galactic Centre which has the potential to open a new frontier in such research. We will find the pristine birth sites of the most massive stars, directly testing predictions of models seeking to explain the observed stellar mass distribution. In addition, we will measure how efficiently gas clouds are converted into stars across much of the Galaxy, producing the first constraints on the dominant mechanisms or environmental factors regulating star formation, thereby laying the foundations for a predictive empirical model of star formation. We will exploit our access to the UK's investment in the world's best mm observatory, ALMA and we will convert significant UK investments in SCUBA-2 and Herschel into an international lead in science outcomes.In time-domain astrophysics, we will perform an in-depth study of the circumstances of core-collapse supernova explosions (SNe Ib/c) and identification of the progenitors of thermonuclear supernovae (SNe Ia). This project capitalises on expertise in the ARI supernova and nova groups and exploits our privileged access to data from the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory and other facilities. We will continue and expand our study of the physics of Gamma Ray Bursts, exploiting our world-leading capabilities in rapid follow-up, polarimety and MHD modelling. A combination of new robotic telescopes, instruments and data analysis will enable us to investigate new types of transients, laying the foundation for a UK lead in time-domain astrophysics beyond Gaia, into the LSST, SKA and gravitational-wave era.Under the heading of the structure and evolution of galaxies, we will exploit our novel technique to measure chemical compositions of individual stars at Mpc distances. We will thus measure abundance patterns in nearby galaxies, and provide the best measurement yet of the Mass-Metallicity Relation in the local universe, a crucial diagnostic of the theory of galaxy formation and evolution. The project is supported by significant awards of time at major international observatories and is part of the E-ELT MOS instrument science case. We will also investigate mass assembly of galaxies using measures of mass distributions in groups and clusters. By comparing to the latest numerical models this will answer key questions regarding the star-formation efficiency of galaxies, the baryonic mass distribution, and the size-mass relationship of galaxies. We will gain new insights into the formation of our Galaxy, by integrating state of the art models of galaxy formation, stellar evolution, and orbital analysis techniques with data from a cutting-edge new survey of Milky Way stars (a part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey), in which LJMU will play a leading role. We will also use hydrodynamical simulations of galaxies and clusters, to make predictions for surveys such as Planck, REFLEX-II. This will address the number counts discrepancy of Planck clusters and the exciting possibility of free-streaming by neutrinos. We will use a new prescription for AGN feedback for the most luminous powerful radio jets, which has been missing in simulations to-date.All of our research uses the most advanced ground-based telescopes, satellites and data analysis techniques. In turn, ARI staff lead many of the new generation surveys with these telescopes. The projects we propose are technically demanding and require computer software support to aid the delivery of the science. The structure and organisation of the ARI is designed to deliver internationally excellent research. The ARI is known worldwide for developing and exploiting outreach activities to engage the wider population in STFC science, and we aim to enhance these.