Professor Paul Crowther
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Professor of Astrophysics
+44 114 222 4291
Full contact details
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
E43
Hicks Building
Hounsfield Road
91Ö±²¥
S3 7RH
- Profile
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My research interests involve the study of the birth, life and death of the most massive stars in the universe. Such stars are rare, but dominate the ionising budget of galaxies and the energetics of young stellar populations.
My primary scientific goals involve in the study of late evolutionary phases of massive stars, notably Wolf-Rayet stars. This is achieved via ultraviolet to infrared observations with large ground- and space- based telescopes (e.g. VLT, HST), plus sophisticated analysis tools.
I have revised the observed stellar mass limit upwards, discovered the first super star cluster in the Milky Way and established the metallicity dependence of Wolf-Rayet winds.
I have presented 4 invited review papers at international meetings in the past 5 years, published over 190 journal papers including a review paper in Annual Review of Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Career history
- PPARC postdoctoral research associate (1993-1998, University College London)
- Royal Society University Research Fellow (1998-2003 UCL, 2003-2006 91Ö±²¥)
- Reader in Astrophysics (2005-2006, 91Ö±²¥)
- Professor of Astrophysics (2007-, 91Ö±²¥)
- Qualifications
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- Maths & Astronomy BSc (1986-1989, University College London)
- Astrophysics PhD (1989-1993, University College London)
- Research interests
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Primary research interests involve the study of massive stars in a variety of environments. Lightweight stars, like our Sun, make up the overwhelming majority of stars in our galaxy and live a long and fairly peaceful life.
In contrast massive stars are very rare and live short intensive lives, after which they undergo core-collapse resulting in a supernova explosion.
Massive stars play a major role in the ecology of their parent galaxies since they dominate the ionising budget of most galaxies and inject kinetic energy via stellar winds and supernovae.
My primary focus involves the study of late evolutionary phases of massive stars, notably Wolf-Rayet stars. This is achieved via ultraviolet to infrared observations of young stellar populations in the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies using large ground- and space- based telescopes (e.g. VLT, HST), plus sophisticated analysis tools.
Notable highlights involve the upwards revision of the observed stellar mass limit, the discovery of the first super star cluster in the Milky Way (Westerlund 1), and establishing the metallicity dependence of Wolf-Rayet winds. My current research team involves PhD student Thaer Alkousa, RA Joachim Bestenlehner and honorary professor Andy Pollock is associated with the group.
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 515(3), 4130-4150.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 495(3), 3323-3331.
- . Galaxies, 7(4).
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 484(2), 2692-2710.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 478(3), 3138-3148.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 615, A78-A78.
- . Science, 359(6371), 69-71.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 458(1), 624-659.
All publications
Books
Journal articles
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 692, A90-A90.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 691, A346-A346.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 690.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 689, A30-A30.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 689, A31-A31.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 688, A104-A104.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 688, A105-A105.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 529(2), 916-916.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 528(4), 6735-6750.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 528(2), 2026-2039.
- . The Astrophysical Journal, 959(2), 125-125.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 527(3), 9023-9047.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 679, A36-A36.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 527(1), 150-170.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 675, A154-A154.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 673, A132-A132.
- . Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 135(1044).
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 521(2), 2860-2873.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 521(1), 585-612.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 18(S361), 15-25.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 18(S361), 184-189.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 668, L5-L5.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 665, A148-A148.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 515(3), 4130-4150.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 663.
- . Nature Astronomy.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 513(1), 1063-1077.
- . The Astrophysical Journal, 925(1).
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 510(3), 3701-3715.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 510(4), 6133-6149.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 650, A147-A147.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 503(1), 292-311.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 649.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 646, A106-A106.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 648.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 500(3), 3213-3239.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 498(4), 5604-5619.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 495(3), 3323-3331.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 495(1), 1209-1226.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 635, A163-A163.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 634, A118-A118.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 491(4), 6000-6019.
- . Galaxies, 7(4).
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 485(1), 102-116.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 484(2), 2692-2710.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- . Nature Astronomy, 3(1), 82-87.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 14(S346), 187-192.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 619.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 479(4), 4535-4543.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 478(3), 3138-3148.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 615, A101-A101.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 615, A78-A78.
- . Science, 361(6400), eaat7032-eaat7032.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 614.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 474(3), 3228-3236.
- . The Astrophysical Journal, 854(2).
- . Science, 359(6371), 69-71.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 473(1), 148-164.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 618, A73-A73.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 617, A66-A66.
- . ESO Messenger, 170, 40-44.
- . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 375(2105).
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 603.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 601, A79-A79.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 600.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 600.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 598, A84-A84.
- . Nature Astronomy(1).
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 598.
- . Space Science Reviews, 202(1-4), 33-78.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 12(S329), 104-109.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 12(S329), 327-331.
- . The Astrophysical Journal, 823(1).
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 458(1), 624-659.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 12(S329), 292-296.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 11(T29A), 428-435.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 449(2), 1834-1844.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 447(3), 2322-2347.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 575, A70-A70.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 573, ---.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 570, A38-A38.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 564.
- . Astronomical Journal, 146(6).
- . Nature, 503(7477), 500-503.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 432(4), 2731-2745.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 433(2), 1114-1132.
- . ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, 550.
- . ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, 550.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 558.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 428(3), 1927-1943.
- . Astronomy & Geophysics, 53(4), 4.30-4.36.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 546.
- IC 4663: The first unambiguous [WN] Wolf-Rayet central star of a planetary nebula. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 542.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 542.
- The evolution and masses of the neutron star and donor star in the high mass X-ray binary OAO1657-415. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- The Wolf-Rayet population of the nearby barred spiral galaxy NGC5068 uncovered by the Very Large Telescope and Gemini. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 530.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 530.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 530.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 7(S279), 9-17.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 7(S279), 118-121.
- The G305 star-forming complex: The central star clusters Danks 1 and Danks 2. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 531.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 416(2), 1311-1323.
- . Astronomy and Astrophysics, 526(16).
- . ASTROPHYS J LETT, 724(1), L90-L94.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 408(2), 731-751.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 405(4), 2737-2753.
- . ASTROPHYS J LETT, 715(2), L74-L79.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 404(3), 1321-1348.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 403(3), 1433-1447.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 403(1), L41-L45.
- . ASTRON J, 139(3), 1283-1294.
- Contamination of short GRBs by giant magnetar flares: Significance of downward revision in distance to SGR 1806-20. Advances in Space Research.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 507(3), 1585-1595.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 507(3), 1555-1565.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 507(3), 1567-1574.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 504(2), 429-435.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 503(3), 985-990.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 5(S266), 35-40.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 499(2), 455-464.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 498(1), 109-114.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 492(1), 111-115.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 4(T27A), 236-239.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 490(1), 125-133.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 389(3), 1033-1040.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 388(3), 1127-1142.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 386(1), L23-L27.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 383(2), 729-740.
- Radio study on the mass loss bi-stability jump. Revista Mexicana de Astronomia y Astrofisica: Serie de Conferencias, 33, 65-67.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 477(1), 147-163.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 382(4), 1877-1888.
- The orbital period of the Wolf-Rayet binary IC 10 X-1: Dynamic evidence that the compact object is a black hole. ASTROPHYS J, 669(1), 21-24.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 381(1), 418-432.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 473(2), 603-+.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 469(1), L31-L34.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 467(3), 1265-1274.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 466(2), L17-L20.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 465(3), 1003-U183.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 3(S250), 327-332.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 3(S250), 301-306.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 3(S250), 47-62.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 3(S250), 285-292.
- . ANNU REV ASTRON ASTR, 45, 177-219.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 372(3), 1407-1424.
- Spectral evolution of the luminous blue variable NGC 2363-V1. I. Observations and qualitative analysis of the ongoing giant eruption. ASTRON J, 132(5), 1756-1762.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 456(3), 1131-U127.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 370(2), 799-818.
- V605 Aquilae: The older twin of Sakurai's object. ASTROPHYS J, 646(1), L69-L72.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 368(4), 1822-1832.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 368(2), 895-902.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 449(2), 711-U47.
- An ultraviolet to mid-infrared study of the physical and wind properties of HD 164270 (WC9) and comparison to BD+30 3639 ([WC9]). ASTROPHYS J, 636(2), 1033-1044.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 2(234), 379-380.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 446(1), 279-293.
- A neutron star with a massive progenitor in Westerlund 1. ASTROPHYS J, 636(1), L41-L44.
- Metallicity Dependent Wolf-Rayet Winds. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 442(2).
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 363(3), 857-866.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 439(1), 265-277.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 434(3), 949-969.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 432(3), 985-998.
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 1(S227), 389-396.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 355(3), 899-917.
- An atlas of far-ultraviolet spectra of Wolf-Rayet stars from the FUSE satellite. ASTROPHYS J SUPPL S, 154(2), 651-672.
- Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) spectroscopy of the prototype Wolf-Rayet star EZ Canis Majoris (HD 50896). ASTROPHYS J SUPPL S, 154(1), 413-417.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 353(1), 153-161.
- Quantitative studies of the far-ultraviolet, ultraviolet, and optical spectra of late O- and early B-type supergiants in the Magellanic Clouds. ASTROPHYS J, 610(2), 1021-1037.
- A CNO dichotomy among O2 giant spectra in the magellanic clouds. ASTROPHYS J, 608(2), 1028-1038.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 420(2), L9-L13.
- . MON NOT R ASTRON SOC, 350(2), 552-564.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 419(2), L17-L20.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 414(3), L45-L48.
- Spitzer-IRS Sectroscopy of the Prototype Wolf-Rayet star EZ CMa (HD 50896). Spitzer ApJS.
- . Astrophysics and Space Science, 285(3/4), 677-685.
- . ASTRON ASTROPHYS, 412(1), 185-198.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 343(1), 143-163.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 404(2), 483-493.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 403(2), 653-658.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 397(3), 859-870.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 337(4), 1309-1328.
- . The Astrophysical Journal, 579(2), 774-799.
- . The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 143(1), 159-200.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 392(2), 563-574.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 392(3), 909-920.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 392(2), 653-669.
- . The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 141(2), 443-468.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 385(2), 600-618.
- . The Astrophysical Journal, 566(2), 857-879.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 328(2), 527-554.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 325(1), 257-272.
- . Astronomy & Astrophysics, 367(3), 891-909.
- . The Astrophysical Journal, 546(1), 484-495.
- . The Astronomical Journal, 120(6), 3201-3217.
- Wind properties of Wolf-Rayet stars at low metallicity: Sk 41 (SMC). Astronomy and Astrophysics, 356(1), 191-199.
- The γ Velorum binary system - II. WR stellar parameters and the photon loss mechanism. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 358(1), 187-200.
- Far ultraviolet spectroscopic explorer observations of the stellar winds of two O7 supergiants in the magellanic clouds. Astrophysical Journal, 538(1 PART 2).
- Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer spectroscopy of the O VI resonance doublet in sand 2 (WO). Astrophysical Journal, 538(1 PART 2).
- The detection of wind variability in Magellanic Cloud O stars. Astrophysical Journal, 538(1 PART 2).
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 315(2), 407-422.
- Wolf-Rayet nebulae as tracers of stellar ionizing fluxes: I. M1-67. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 350(3), 1007-1017.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 308(1), 82-96.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 306(4), 931-942.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 304(3), 654-668.
- Quantitative near-infrared spectroscopy of of and WNL stars. Astrophysical Journal, 511(1 PART 1), 374-388.
- Ionizing power of massive stars in the cores of two giant HII regions: R136A and HD 97950. Astrophysics and Space Science, 260(1-2), 177-180.
- An optical and near-IR spectroscopic study of the extreme P Cygni-type supergiant HDE 316285. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 340(2), 483-496.
- Clumping-corrected mass-loss rates of Wolf-Rayet stars. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 333(3), 956-969.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 300(3), 828-836.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 296(3), 622-642.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 296(2), 419-429.
- . The Astrophysical Journal, 503(1), 278-296.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 296(2), 367-378.
- ISO SWS spectroscopy of WR 146 (WC6+O). Astrophysics and Space Science, 255(1-2), 167-168.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 290(3), L59-L63.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 290(2), 371-379.
- Fundamental parameters of Wolf-Rayet stars VI. Large magellanic cloud WNL stars. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 320(2), 500-524.
- B 517 - Another very late WNL star in M 33. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 318(2), 543-547.
- The distinction between O Iafpe and WNLha stars: A spectral analysis of HD 151804, HD 152408 and HDE 313846. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 317(2), 532-547.
- . Astrophysics and Space Science, 238(1), 119-123.
- Variability in the optical wind lines of HD 151804 (O8 Iaf). Astronomy and Astrophysics, 311(1), 264-272.
- . Space Science Reviews, 66(1-4), 271-275.
- . Space Science Reviews, 66(1-4), 85-103.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
- . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 385(1), 544-544.
- , 78-79.
- . The Astronomical Journal, 156(3), 98-98.
- The changing-type SN 2014C may come from an 11-$M_odot$ star stripped by binary interaction and violent eruption.
- Toward better understanding supernova environments: a study of SNe 2004dg and 2012P in NGC 5806 with HST and MUSE.
Chapters
Conference proceedings papers
- Wolf-Rayet content of the Milky Way. Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.–5. June 2015
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, Vol. 9(S307) (pp 135-136)
- IC 4663: The First Unambiguous [WN] Wolf-Rayet Central Star of a Planetary Nebula. 18TH EUROPEAN WHITE DWARF WORKSHOP, Vol. 469 (pp 281-+)
- Searching for Woff-Rayet Stars Beyond the Local Group. FOUR DECADES OF RESEARCH ON MASSIVE STARS, Vol. 465 (pp 478-+)
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, Vol. 10(H16) (pp 51-79)
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, Vol. 10(H16) (pp 420-428)
- Very Massive Stars and the Eddington Limit. FOUR DECADES OF RESEARCH ON MASSIVE STARS, Vol. 465 (pp 196-+)
- . Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Vol. 328 (pp 012022-012022)
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, Vol. 6(S272) (pp 296-297)
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, Vol. 6(S272) (pp 497-498)
- Life and death of very massive stars. Proceedings of Science
- . IMPACT OF HST ON EUROPEAN ASTRONOMY (pp 3-10)
- . ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE, Vol. 324(2-4) (pp 177-182)
- Physical and wind properties of [WC] stars. HYDROGEN-DEFICIENT STARS, Vol. 391 (pp 83-93)
- . Astronomy & Geophysics, Vol. 48(1) (pp 1.35-1.38)
- LMC-BAT129: Revealing the structure of a Wolf-Rayet wind. MASSIVE STARS IN INTERACTING BINARIES, Vol. 367 (pp 431-+)
- IC10 x-1 (WN+cc). Massive Stars in Interacting Binaries, Vol. 367 (pp 499-504)
- Observed metallicity dependence of winds from WR stars. Stellar Evolution at Low Metallicity: Mass Loss, Explosions, Cosmology, Vol. 353 (pp 157-170)
- How extreme are the WR clusters in NGC 3125?. Stellar Evolution at Low Metallicity: Mass Loss, Explosions, Cosmology, Vol. 353 (pp 247-250)
- Properties of hot, massive stars: The impact of FUSE. Astrophysics in the Far Ultraviolet: Five Years of Discovery with FUSE, Vol. 348 (pp 107-117)
- . Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, Vol. 1(T26A) (pp 233-235)
- The disk Wolf-Rayet population of the nuclear starburst galaxy M83. Starbursts: From 30 Doradus to Lyman Break Galaxies, Vol. 329 (pp 21-25)
- . EAS Publications Series, Vol. 13 (pp 1-20)
- . EAS Publications Series, Vol. 13 (pp 119-140)
- Summary of the RAS NAM Discussion Meeting on Massive Stars. Observatory, Vol. 123(1176) (pp 280-282)
- . Astrophysics and Space Science, Vol. 281(1/2) (pp 215-216)
Preprints
- X-Shooting ULLYSES: Massive stars at low metallicity VI. Atmosphere and mass-loss properties of O-type giants in the Small Magellanic Cloud.
- Outflow from the very massive Wolf-Rayet binary Melnick 34, arXiv.
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- A UV census of the environments of stripped-envelope supernovae.
- X-ray properties of early-type stars in the Tarantula Nebula from T-ReX.
- ULLYSES and Complementary Surveys of Massive Stars in the Magellanic Clouds.
- The R136 star cluster dissected with Hubble Space Telescope/STIS. III. The most massive stars and their clumped winds, arXiv.
- Melnick 33Na: a very massive colliding wind binary system in 30 Doradus, arXiv.
- Mapping the core of the Tarantula Nebula with VLT-MUSE II. The spectroscopic Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of OB stars in NGC 2070, arXiv.
- The R136 star cluster dissected with Hubble Space Telescope/STIS. II. Physical properties of the most massive stars in R136, arXiv.
- Properties of OB star-black hole systems derived from detailed binary evolution models, arXiv.
- BlueMUSE: Project Overview and Science Cases, arXiv.
- Weighing Melnick 34: the most massive binary system known, arXiv.
- Response to comment on "An excess of massive stars in the local 30 Doradus starburst", arXiv.
- The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey. XXIX. Massive star formation in the local 30 Doradus starburst, arXiv.
- HST astrometry in the 30 Doradus region: II. Runaway stars from new proper motions in the Large Magellanic Cloud, arXiv.
- The luminosities of cool supergiants in the Magellanic Clouds, and the Humphreys-Davidson limit revisited, arXiv.
- The Arches cluster revisited: II. A massive eclipsing spectroscopic binary in the Arches cluster, arXiv.
- Mapping the core of the Tarantula Nebula with VLT-MUSE: I. Spectral and nebular content around R136, arXiv.
- An excess of massive stars in the local 30 Doradus starburst, arXiv.
- Dissecting the Core of the Tarantula Nebula with MUSE, arXiv.
- A deep near-infrared spectroscopic survey of the Scutum-Crux arm for Wolf-Rayet stars, arXiv.
- The Tarantula Nebula as a template for extragalactic star forming regions from VLT/MUSE and HST/STIS, arXiv.
- The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XXIV. Stellar properties of the O-type giants and supergiants in 30 Doradus, arXiv.
- Gamma-ray burst progenitors, arXiv.
- Wolf-Rayet content of the Milky Way, arXiv.
- The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XVII. Physical and wind properties of massive stars at the top of the main sequence, arXiv.
- The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XVI. The optical+NIR extinction laws in 30 Doradus and the photometric determination of the effective temperatures of OB stars, arXiv.
- The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey - XI. A census of the hot luminous stars and their feedback in 30 Doradus, arXiv.
- The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey. IX. The interstellar medium seen through Diffuse Interstellar Bands and neutral sodium, arXiv.
- On the association between core-collapse supernovae and HII regions, arXiv.
- IC4663: the first unambiguous [WN] Wolf-Rayet central star of a planetary nebula, arXiv.
- Very Massive Stars and the Eddington Limit, arXiv.
- Environments of massive stars and the upper mass limit, arXiv.
- The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey IV: Candidates for isolated high-mass star formation in 30 Doradus, arXiv.
- IC 4663: The first unambiguous [WN] Wolf-Rayet central star of a planetary nebula, arXiv.
- The G305 star-forming complex: the central star clusters Danks 1 and Danks 2, arXiv.
- The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey III: A very massive star in apparent isolation from the massive cluster R136, arXiv.
- The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey II: R139 revealed as a massive binary system, arXiv.
- The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey I: Introduction and observational overview, arXiv.
- The R136 star cluster hosts several stars whose individual masses greatly exceed the accepted 150 Msun stellar mass limit, arXiv.
- A Very Large Telescope imaging and spectroscopic survey of the Wolf-Rayet population in NGC 7793, arXiv.
- NGC 300 X-1 is a Wolf-Rayet/Black-Hole binary, arXiv.
- The Onfp Class in the Magellanic Clouds, arXiv.
- Interstellar Ti II in the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds, arXiv.
- Mid-Infrared diagnostics of metal-rich HII regions from VLT and Spitzer Spectroscopy of Young Massive Stars in W31, arXiv.
- Contamination of short GRBs by giant magnetar flares: Significance of downward revision in distance to SGR 1806-20, arXiv.
- A FEROS spectroscopic study of the extreme O supergiant He 3-759, arXiv.
- On the massive star content of the nearby dwarf irregular Wolf-Rayet galaxy IC 4662, arXiv.
- On the central ionizing star of G23.96+0.15 and near-IR spectral classification of O stars, arXiv.
- Dynamical mass of a star cluster in M83: a test of fibre-fed multi-object spectroscopy, arXiv.
- Westerlund 1 as a Template for Massive Star Evolution, arXiv.
- A downward revision to the distance of the 1806-20 cluster and associated magnetar from Gemini near-Infrared spectroscopy, arXiv.
- Physical and Wind Properties of [WC] Stars, arXiv.
- Cluster and nebular properties of the central star-forming region of NGC 1140, arXiv.
- Hot Massive Stars: The Impact of HST, arXiv.
- On the optical counterpart of NGC300 X-1 and the global Wolf-Rayet content of NGC300, arXiv.
- A census of the Wolf-Rayet content in Westerlund 1 from near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy, arXiv.
- Metallicity Dependent Wolf-Rayet Winds, arXiv.
- How extreme are the Wolf-Rayet clusters in NGC3125?, arXiv.
- On the reliability of CIV 1549 as an abundance indicator for high redshift star-forming galaxies, arXiv.
- Reduced Wolf-Rayet Line Luminosities at Low Metallicity, arXiv.
- Observed Metallicity Dependence of Winds from WR stars, arXiv.
- A Neutron Star with a Massive Progenitor in Westerlund 1, arXiv.
- An Ultraviolet to Mid-Infrared Study of the Physical and Wind Properties of HD 164270 (WC9) and Comparison to BD+30 3639 ([WC9]), arXiv.
- On the massive stellar population of the Super Star Cluster Westerlund 1, arXiv.
- Properties of Hot, Massive Stars: The Impact of FUSE, arXiv.
- Spitzer-IRS Sectroscopy of the Prototype Wolf-Rayet star EZ CMa (HD 50896), arXiv.
- MSX Mid infrared imaging of massive star birth environments. II: Giant HII regions, arXiv.
- Wolf-Rayet Populations at High Metallicity.
- Summary of IAU GA SpS 5 II: Stellar and Wind Parameters.
- Research group
- Grants
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- Consolidated Grant for 91Ö±²¥ astrophysics, STFC, £1.3m (2021-2024, CoI)
- Consolidated Grant for 91Ö±²¥ astrophysics, STFC, £1.0m (2018-2021, Col)
- Consolidated Grant for 91Ö±²¥ Astrophysics, STFC, £1.2M (2015-2018, CoI)
- Consolidated Grant for 91Ö±²¥ Astrophysics, STFC, £613K (2012-2015, CoI)
- Massive Stars at early and late evolution at phases, PPARC, £155K (2006-2009, PI)
- Astronomical Computing at 91Ö±²¥, PPARC, £28K (2006-2008, PI)
- University Research Fellowship & Extension, Royal Society, £303K (1998-2006, PI)
Recent major telescope awards
- A UV census of the sites of core-collapse supernovae, HST SNAP (Cycle 24, CoI)
- The Tarantula - revealed by X-Ray's (T-ReX), Chandra, X-day Visionary Project (Cycle 15, CoI)
- A massive star census of the starburst cluster R136, HST, 39 orbits (Cycles 19-20, PI)
- VLT/FLAMES Tarantula Survey, VLT, Large Programme (CoI)
- Teaching activities
-
Undergraduate taught modules (current)
- PHY104 Introduction to Astrophysics
Undergraduate taught courses (recent)
- PHY232 The Dynamic Interstellar Medium (until 2014/15)
- PHY305 Stellar Atmospheres (until 2015/16)
- PHY404 Star Formation & Evolution
- Professional activities and memberships
-
- Member of Royal Society URF appointment panel Ai (2014+, Deputy Chair 2016-2018)
- Member of UK E-ELT Steering Committee (2009-2016)
- Organizing Committee for IAU Commission 29: Stellar Spectroscopy (2012-2015)
- Member of International Astronomical Union
- Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Member of the Institute of Physics
Departmental administration
- Head of Department (June 2016-Jan 2017, Jan 2018-Aug 2022)
- Director of Learning & Teaching (2012/13-2015/16)
University administration
- Faculty Executive Board (Jan 2018-Aug 2022)
- Member of Senate (2012/13-15/16, 17/18-2020/21)
- Senate Learning & Teaching Committee (2019/20-2021/22)
Public engagement
Deep Sky Videos: Lead contributor from 91Ö±²¥ to YouTube channel –
Sounds of the Cosmos, Joint Director of music/science performance which premiered during Festival of the Mind 2014 and was presented at 91Ö±²¥ Doc/Fest 2015 and
I have appeared on Channel 4 news, Sky TV news, BBC Radio 4 Today and the NHK (Japan) Cosmic Front documentary series. I regularly provide astronomy talks to primary and secondary schools and local amateur societies.
Links