Astronomy Research at Queen Mary 2015-2018

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We propose to undertake the following research projects.i) We will use supercomputer simulations to model the gas discs that orbit young stars, which are believed to be the sites of planet formation. The aim is to examine the behaviour of the gas as it orbits around the star, and to examine how planets that form in these discs interact with them. This interaction may explain the fact that many of the extrasolar planets that have been discovered outside of our solar system orbit close to their host stars.ii) We will use supercomputer simulations to model the atmospheres of giant planets in our solar system and in extrasolar systems. These atmospheres display interestingpatterns of gas flow, and extrasolar planets often orbit close to their stars and so are strongly heated on one side, causing strong winds to arise. The simulations will help us better understand these atmospheres.iii) Using mathematical representations of the laws of physics, we will produce new modelsfor the early evolution of the Universe, shortly after the big-bang, during which time it underwent very rapid expansion known as "inflation". The models will be compared with observations of the Universe to see which ones are compatible with the data. We will also use mathematical models to examine the late evolution of the Universe to see if there are natural explanations for the observed fact that the Universe's rate of expansion is increasing. In particular, these models will examine whether or not the concept of "dark energy" is required to explain this accelerated expansion.iv) We will use computer simulations and mathematical theory to examine the formation ofblack holes in the early Universe and also supermassive binary black holes that are observedat the centres of galaxies.v) We will use an observational survey of the Universe being undertaken by the VISTAtelescope to search for very distant quasars - galaxies that have supermassive black holesat their centres, and which were born when the Universe was less than 10% of its current age. We have already discovered the 2nd, 3rd and 4th most distant quasars thatare known, and the aim is to increase this number to about 14. We will then be ableto estimate of how many quasars there were when the Universe was very young,and we will be able to examine the black holes and the structures of their galaxies.vi) We will use supercomputer simulations to examine the evolution of the solar wind - thestream of charged particles that is constantly flowing from the Sun into our solar system.In particular, we will examine why this wind develops turbulence as it flows through interplanetaryspace, and how this turbulence heats the solar wind.vii) We will use supercomputer simulations to examine the low density but very high temperaturegas that lies above the Sun's surface - the solar corona. In particular, we want to understand whetheror not magnetic fields that pop up out of the Sun in regions called Active Regions can contributeto the heating of the solar corona in a significant way.viii) We will analyse images from the Cassini spacecraft that is currently orbiting Saturn, to examine how Saturn's moons interact with and disturb Saturn's system of rings. We are particularly interested in the F ring which lies near the outer edge of the ring system, and is regularly disturbed by two satellites, Prometheus and Pandora. We will use computer simulations to explain the dynamics of this system.ix) We will attempt to understand more about the formation of the planet Mars. It is believedthat the four inner planets of our solar system formed from collisions between smaller bodiesthat built the planets, and we will use computer simulations to examine this process. We willexamine whether a collision can explain why Mars has a crust that is thicker in the southern hemisphere than in the north, and we will examine the formation of Mars' m