Visitors in Astronomy

天文学股在一系列领域开展研究方案，拟议的访客补助金将支持所有领域。宇宙学：早期宇宙(特别是膨胀情况)，包括在弦理论和量子环引力启发的膨胀模型中产生非高斯密度扰动；原始黑洞和暗物质；暗能量和修正的引力理论；对宇宙加速的理解；宇宙微波背景的极化，以及通过空间干涉测量和脉冲星计时可能探测到原始引力波。行星系统的动力学和形成：利用卡西尼号飞行任务的模拟和数据研究土星的环-卫星相互作用；流星流和柯伊伯带的形成和演化；行星系统的形成，包括在湍流磁化盘中形成行星和在系外行星系统中形成类地行星；行星和卫星系统的形成和动力学，包括行星碰撞研究；系外行星大气的动力学和循环模型及其对观测的影响。空间和天体物理等离子体：使用计算机模拟研究无碰撞冲击和动力学等离子体湍流；使用计算机模拟无碰撞冲击下的粒子加速；使用计算机模拟线性等离子体不稳定性和非线性演化；湍流加热的动力学等离子体物理学；使用模拟对航天器观测进行模拟和分析。调查天文学：为Vista调查开发分析工具；将来自大容量/面积调查(Vista和VST)的数据应用于宇宙学、银河系外、银河系和恒星天体物理方面的广泛项目。

The Astronomy Unit pursues programmes of research in a range of fields, and the proposed Visitor grant will support all areas. Cosmology: Early universe (particularly inflationary scenarios) including generation of non-Gaussian density perturbations in inflationary models inspired by String Theory and Quantum Loop Gravity; primordial black holes and dark matter; dark energy and modified gravity theories and understanding the acceleration of the universe; polarization of the cosmic microwave background, and the possible detection of primordial gravitational waves by space interferometry and pulsar timing. Dynamics and Formation of the Planetary Systems: studie of ring-satellite interactions at Saturn using modelling and data from the Cassini mission; formation and evolution of meteor streams and the Kuiper belt; planetary system formation including the formation of planets in turbulent magnetised disks and the formation of terrestrial planets in exoplanet systems; formation and dynamics of planetary and satellite systems including planetary collision studies; dynamics and circulation models of exoplanet atmospheres and implications for observations. Space and Astrophysical Plasmas: study of collisionless shocks and kinetic plasma turbulence using computer simulations; particle acceleration at collisionless shocks; linear plasma instabilities and nonlinear evolution using computer simulation; kinetic plasma physics of turbulent heating; modelling and analysis of spacecraft observations using simulations. Survey Astronomy: development of analysis tools for VISTA surveys; application of data from large volume/area surveys (VISTA and VST) for a broad range of projects in cosmology, extragalactic, galactic and stellar astrophysics.