Astrophysics Research at Liverpool John Moores University: Consolidated Grant Renewal (2018-2021)

我们将利用观测和理论在天体物理学的前沿开展工作。ARI的使命是成为世界领先的研究中心，具有最高的国际卓越水平。我们的研究使用最先进的设备和数据分析技术，ARI的工作人员正在领导许多新一代的调查。这种情况下的项目在技术上要求很高，需要PDRA和其他支持来帮助科学的传播。基于ARI在恒星形成（SF）方面世界领先的专业知识，我们将通过绘制3-D的SF效率和研究SF与银河系中心附近气体分布之间的联系来研究银河系中SF与气体物理之间的联系。在一项平行研究中，我们将通过推导银河系中心新发现的高质量前恒星核心的特性来确定超大质量恒星是如何聚集的。利用JCMT和Herschel的调查数据以及世界上最好的mm天文台ALMA的大量时间分配，我们将回答关于SF与致密气体物理之间的联系以及怪物恒星早期成长的关键问题。我们还将对球状星团中恒星的形成进行模拟。这将通过首次结合前体气体的实际处理，大大扩展以前的工作，并为理解这些系统的形成提供了重要的一步。在恒星群领域，我们将利用APOGEE-2、盖亚和WEAVE的大量数据，为确定银河系形成和结构的物理过程提供新的视角。这些数据将用于确定银河系恒星的轨道特性，并与来自星系形成模型的模拟目录相结合，例如EAGLE模拟。在时域天体物理学中，我们将执行一个深入的项目来研究伽马射线爆发的特性，超新星类型：Ia， II和Ib/c，以及它们的环境。我们将通过测量本星系群内外新一类快速循环新星的大小来建立通往Ia型超新星的路径。我们还将通过寻找合并双星的电磁对应物来参与新的引力波科学。我们将使用最具能量的瞬变作为高红移宇宙的探测器，为再电离时的恒星形成密度提供新的估计。这些活动充分利用ARI在该领域不断增长的专业知识，并利用我们的特权获得：(i) SN探测调查iPTF/ZTF；（ii） LIGO-Virgo EM后续实验；（iii）基于swift的浅滩调查；（iv）在一系列领先的天文设施，包括我们自己的利物浦望远镜（LT）进行观测。基于我们在瞬态偏振测量方面的领先地位，我们将利用lt上的新型时域偏振计（MOPTOP）。因此，我们将对伽玛射线暴，耀变体和新星遇到的极端环境中的磁场和物理几何形状施加新的限制。在星系演化中，我们将研究宇宙中的重子质量集合，重点观察低光度星系和星系内外的漫射光。这对于充分利用欧几里德、eROSITA和LSST等新设施的科学至关重要，申请人在这些设施上有大量投资。ARI在使用EAGLE和巴哈马模拟开发星系形成的现实模型方面处于领先地位。因此，通过与我们的观测工作并行的倡议，我们将开发复杂的虚拟观测，提供光线追踪弱透镜图和微弱恒星晕光的预测，以便与盖亚、欧几里得和LSST的结果进行比较。为了让公众参与STFC科学，我们建议为5个项目开发一系列资源，涵盖以下领域：1)恒星生命；2)“大”和“开放”数据；3)天文和宇宙学模拟。

We will carry out work at the forefront of astrophysics using both observations and theory. The ARI's mission is to be a world-leading research centre at the highest international level of excellence. Our research uses the most advanced facilities and data analysis techniques and ARI staff are leading many of the new generation surveys. The projects in this case are technically demanding and require PDRA and other support to aid the delivery of the science. Building on ARI's world-leading expertise in star formation (SF), we will investigate the connection between SF and gas physics in the Milky Way by: mapping the SF efficiency in 3-D and studying the connection between SF and the gas distribution close to the Galactic Centre. In a parallel study we will determine how very massive stars assemble by deriving properties of newly identified high mass pre-stellar cores in the Galactic Centre. Exploiting survey data from JCMT and Herschel and large allocations of time on the world's best mm observatory, ALMA, we will answer key questions about the connection between SF and the dense-gas physics, and the early growth of monster stars. We will also carry out simulations of the formation of stars in globular clusters. This will significantly extend previous work by incorporating realistic treatment of the precursor gas for the first time and provide a major step forward in understanding the formation of these systems.In the area of stellar populations we will deliver a new perspective on the physical processes determining the formation and structure of the Milky Way, using extensive data from APOGEE-2, Gaia and WEAVE. These data will be used to determine orbital properties of Galactic stars and integrated with mock catalogues from models of galaxy formation, such as the EAGLE simulations.In time-domain astrophysics we will perform an in-depth programme to study the properties of gamma-ray bursts, Supernovae Types: Ia, II and Ib/c, and their environments. We will establish the pathways to SNe Type Ia by measuring the size of a new class of Rapidly Recurring Novae in and beyond the Local Group. We will also partake in the new science of gravitational waves by searching for the electro-magnetic counterparts to coalescing binaries. We will use the most energetic transients as probes of the high-redshift Universe providing new estimates of the star-formation density at reionization. These activities capitalise on ARI's growing expertise in this field and exploit our privileged access to: (i) the SN detection surveys iPTF/ZTF; (ii) LIGO-Virgo EM follow-up experiments; (iii) the Swift-based SHOALS survey; (iv) observations on a range of leading astronomical facilities including our own Liverpool Telescope (LT). Building on our lead in polarization measurements of transients, we will exploit the new time-domain polarimeter (MOPTOP) on the LT. We will thereby place new constraints on the magnetic field and physical geometries in extreme environments encountered in gamma-ray bursts, blazars and novae. In galaxy evolution we will investigate the baryonic mass assembly in the Universe focussing on observations of low-luminosity galaxies and diffuse light in and around galaxies. This is essential to fully exploit the science from new facilities such as Euclid, eROSITA and LSST, in which the applicants have a strong investment. The ARI is at the forefront of developing realistic models of galaxy formation using the EAGLE and BAHAMAS simulations. Thus, through a parallel initiative to our observational work we will develop sophisticated virtual observations, delivering both ray-traced weak lensing maps and predictions of the faint stellar halo light for comparison with results from Gaia, Euclid and LSST.To engage the public in STFC science we propose to develop a range of resources for 5 projects covering the areas i) life of a star ii) "big" and "open" data iii) astronomical and cosmological simulations.