Open University Rolling Grant 2009 - 2014

天文学小组寻求继续其滚动赠款，以支持观测，理论，实验室和空间为基础的天文学研究和仪器开发计划。主题1星星的形成：这个主题旨在了解我们银河系和本地宇宙的星星形成，重点是近红外和远红外研究。我们将继续开展四个相互关联的项目，这些项目将在我们获得AKARI空间红外望远镜、LOFAR射电望远镜和ESO设施的保证时间数据的范围内进行。这些项目是星星形成天体物理学的核心，建立在过去关于分子云结构、远红外天文学和触发和大质量星星形成的工作基础上。项目1.1 ASTRO-F银道面巡天项目1.2大质量星星和星爆星团的形成项目1.3赫歇尔巡天利用项目1.4 LOFAR银道面巡天主题2行星天体物理学：这一领域包括对系外行星的观测搜索;用HST和斯皮策进行系外行星表征，模拟系外行星大气;系外行星的内部结构;各种行星结构所涉及的动力学和迁移物理学;太阳系地球行星大气的模型和数据利用。项目2.1系外行星动力学项目2.2系外行星结构和演变项目2.3太阳系地球行星大气专题3河外红外天文学和宇宙学：这是一个综合研究方案，利用国际上主要的远红外和亚毫米波遗留调查/关键项目，追踪恒星形成星系的宇宙演变。项目3.1 SCUBA-2和AKARI遗产调查项目3.2赫歇尔阿特拉斯重点项目3.3宇宙近红外背景主题4极端环境天体物理学：该计划探索星系环境和附近星系中相对论性物体含量之间的相互关系，以提供对大质量星星形成的见解，相对论性物体形成和高能现象，这些现象不能仅从我们自己的银河系中的观测中获得;研究我们在对附近星系的X射线调查中发现的高能源的对应物;并进行数值模拟，以模拟吸积流的性质及其X射线粒子的性质项目4.1邻近星系中的相对论吸积物项目4.2描述紧凑吸积系统项目4.3磁灾变变星粒子主题5实验室天体化学;探索化学复杂性：该研究的目标是模拟星星和行星形成区域以及行星大气和表面内的化学和物理过程;该研究计划的重点是两个项目（i）探索ISM中化学复杂性的性质和（ii）识别生物标志物，将用于利用现存的数据，并导致在系外行星的大气和表面的强大的生物成因的生物标志物信号的识别。项目5.1星星和行星形成的化学。项目5.2为系外行星研究确定生物特征;专题6为空间飞行任务开发天文仪器：该建议旨在促进为未来空间飞行任务开展辐射损害研究，这些飞行任务属于科学、技术和金融中心方案。活动包括：a）对影响空间飞行任务科学仪器的辐射损害和其他环境因素进行实验室研究，B）为我们与中国合作进行其第一次国家X射线天文学使命-HXMT-提供低水平支持，c）在未来项目研究的早期阶段提供支持，用于空间和地面仪器项目6.1辐射损伤的实验室研究（1 PDRA）项目6.2 HXMT项目的辐射损伤支持

The OU Astronomy Group seeks continuation of its Rolling Grant to support a program of observational, theoretical, laboratory and space based astronomical research and instrumentation development. Theme 1 Star formation: This theme aims to understand star formation of our Galaxy and the local universe, focussing on near and far infrared studies. We will pursue four interlinked projects working within our access to the Guaranteed Time data from the AKARI space infrared telescope, the LOFAR radio telescope, and ESO facilities. The projects lie at the heart of star formation astrophysics, building on past work on molecular cloud structure, far-IR astronomy and triggered and high mass star formation. Project 1.1 ASTRO-F Galactic Plane Survey Project 1.2 Massive star and starburst cluster formation Project 1.3 HERSCHEL Survey exploitation Project 1.4 LOFAR Galactic Plane Survey Theme 2 Planetary Astrophysics: This area includes observational searches for Exoplanets; exoplanet characterisation with HST and Spitzer, modelling Exoplanet atmospheres; the interior structure of Exoplanets; and the dynamics and migration physics involved in various planetary architectures; and models and exploitation of data from solar system terrestrial planetary atmospheres. Project 2.1 Exoplanet Dynamics Project 2.2 Exoplanet Structure and Evolution Project 2.3 Solar System terrestrial planetary atmospheres Theme 3 Extragalactic Infrared astronomy & Cosmology: This is an integrated research programme to trace the cosmic evolution of star-forming galaxies using major international far-infrared and submm-wave legacy surveys / key projects. Project 3.1 SCUBA-2 and AKARI Legacy Surveys Project 3.2 The HERSCHEL ATLAS Key Project Project 3.3 The Cosmic Near-Infrared Background Theme 4 Extreme Environment astrophysics: This program explores the interrelation between galactic environment and relativistic object content in nearby galaxies, to provide insights into high-mass star formation, relativistic object formation and high-energy phenomena that cannot be gained from observations in our own Galaxy alone; to study the counterparts of high-energy sources we identify in our X-ray surveys of nearby galaxies; and conduct numerical simulations to model the nature of the accretion flows and the nature of their X-ray populations Project 4.1 Relativistic accretors in nearby galaxies Project 4.2 Characterising compact accreting systems Project 4.3 Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable Populations Theme 5 Laboratory Astrochemistry; Exploring Chemical Complexity: The research is targeted at simulating chemical and physical processes within star and planet formation regions and planetary atmospheres and surfaces; The research programme is focused on two projects (i) exploring the nature of chemical complexity in the ISM and (ii) identification of biomarkers that will be used to exploit extant data, and lead to the identification of robust biogenic biomarker signals in Exoplanet atmospheres and surfaces. Project 5.1 The Chemistry of Star and Planet Formation. Project 5.2 Identifying biosignatures for Exoplanetary studies; Theme 6 Astronomical Instrumentation Development for Space Missions: This proposal aims to promote radiation damage studies for future space missions which are within the STFC programme. The activity includes: a) Laboratory study of radiation damage and other environmental factors affecting scientific instrumentation on space missions, b) To provide low-level support to our collaboration with China on their first national X-ray astronomy mission, HXMT, c) To provide support at the early stage of future project studies, for both space and ground based instrumentation Project 6.1 Laboratory Studies of Radiation Damage (1 PDRA) Project 6.2 Radiation Damage support for the HXMT project