Denys Wilkinson Building, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH
Sophia Vaughan
Dr Lyla Jung
Dr Joe Bright
Lawrence Clark - Lawrence.selmons-clark@physics.ox.ac.uk
Programme
- Sophia Vaughan
Stellar echoes: searching for the reflected light of exoplanets
It will soon be possible to search for biosignatures in the atmospheres of the nearest Earth-sized, habitable zone exoplanets. While transit spectroscopy is an exciting avenue for this work, these exoplanets are unlikely to transit. To study these non-transiting worlds and gain additional information on the transiting ones, we can look at their reflected light.
I will report on our recent observations untangling the mystery of the unusually reflective LTT9779 b using High Resolution Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy with the world's largest optical telescope – the Very Large Telescope with ESPRESSO in 4UT mode. This planet’s reflection properties can illuminate its survival in the hot Neptune photo-evaporation desert. I will also show work on simulating future coronographic instruments for characterising Earth-like planets. For HARMONI/ELT, I will show the feasibility of characterising Proxima b and for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, I will demonstrate how the detection of liquid water via rainbows could be achieved.
- Dr Lyla Jung
Search for magnetized circumgalactic gas
High-velocity clouds (HVCs) around the Milky Way are direct evidence of gas accretion that could fuel the future star formation activity of the Galaxy. Whether the clouds can deliver cold gas to the Galaxy depends on whether they survive their passage through the circumgalactic gas environment. In this talk, I will highlight the complexity of understanding the evolution of circumgalactic clouds. I will discuss the role of magnetic fields in particular and provide an overview of the ongoing observational search for magnetized HVCs using the Faraday rotation of extragalactic polarized radio sources.
- Dr Joe Bright
Image Plane Science with the Allen Telescope Array
The newly refurbished Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is a powerful tool for technosignature searching, as well as for the study of transient astrophysical phenomena producing both coherent and incoherent radio emission between 1 and 10 GHz. Over the past year great progress has been made in understanding the imaging capabilities of the ATA, with robust system testing demonstrating excellent performance across the entire observing band. I will present the current image plane observing capabilities of the ATA, as well as exciting early science results from observing transient and variables sources, and motivate the place for agile radio arrays in the era of next generation radio facilities.
- Sophia Vaughan
Stellar echoes: searching for the reflected light of exoplanets
It will soon be possible to search for biosignatures in the atmospheres of the nearest Earth-sized, habitable zone exoplanets. While transit spectroscopy is an exciting avenue for this work, these exoplanets are unlikely to transit. To study these non-transiting worlds and gain additional information on the transiting ones, we can look at their reflected light.
I will report on our recent observations untangling the mystery of the unusually reflective LTT9779 b using High Resolution Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy with the world's largest optical telescope – the Very Large Telescope with ESPRESSO in 4UT mode. This planet’s reflection properties can illuminate its survival in the hot Neptune photo-evaporation desert. I will also show work on simulating future coronographic instruments for characterising Earth-like planets. For HARMONI/ELT, I will show the feasibility of characterising Proxima b and for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, I will demonstrate how the detection of liquid water via rainbows could be achieved.
- Dr Lyla Jung
Search for magnetized circumgalactic gas
High-velocity clouds (HVCs) around the Milky Way are direct evidence of gas accretion that could fuel the future star formation activity of the Galaxy. Whether the clouds can deliver cold gas to the Galaxy depends on whether they survive their passage through the circumgalactic gas environment. In this talk, I will highlight the complexity of understanding the evolution of circumgalactic clouds. I will discuss the role of magnetic fields in particular and provide an overview of the ongoing observational search for magnetized HVCs using the Faraday rotation of extragalactic polarized radio sources.
- Dr Joe Bright
Image Plane Science with the Allen Telescope Array
The newly refurbished Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is a powerful tool for technosignature searching, as well as for the study of transient astrophysical phenomena producing both coherent and incoherent radio emission between 1 and 10 GHz. Over the past year great progress has been made in understanding the imaging capabilities of the ATA, with robust system testing demonstrating excellent performance across the entire observing band. I will present the current image plane observing capabilities of the ATA, as well as exciting early science results from observing transient and variables sources, and motivate the place for agile radio arrays in the era of next generation radio facilities.