A team of scientists, led by Dr Sebastian Hoenig from the University of Southampton, have developed a new way of measuring precise distances to galaxies tens of millions of light years away, using the W. M. Keck Observatory near the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

The method is similar to what land surveyors use on earth, by measuring the physical and angular, or ‘apparent’, size of a standard ruler in the galaxy, to calibrate the distance from this information.

The research, which is published in the journal Nature, was used to identify the accurate distance of the nearby NGC4151 galaxy, which wasn’t previously available. The galaxy NGC4151, which is dubbed the ‘Eye of Sauron’ by astronomers for its similarity to the film depiction of the eye of the character in The Lord of the Rings, is important for accurately measuring black hole masses.

Recently reported distances range from 4 to 29 megaparsecs, but using this new method the researchers calculated the distance of 19 megaparsecs to the supermassive black hole.

Indeed, as in the famous saga, a ring plays a crucial role in this new measurement. All big galaxies in the universe host a supermassive black hole in their centre and in about a tenth of all galaxies, these supermassive black holes are growing by swallowing huge amounts of gas and dust from their surrounding environments. In this process, the material heats up and becomes very bright — becoming the most energetic sources of emission in the universe known as active galactic nuclei (AGN).

The hot dust forms a ring around the supermassive black hole and emits infrared radiation, which the researchers used as the ruler. However, the apparent size of this ring is so small that the observations were carried out using infrared interferometry to combine W. M. Keck Observatory’s twin 10-meter telescopes, to achieve the resolution power of an 85m telescope.

To measure the physical size of the dusty ring, the researchers measured the time delay between the emission of light from very close to the black hole and the infrared emission. This delay is the distance the light has to travel (at the speed-of-light) from close to the black hole out to the hot dust.

By combining this physical size of the dust ring with the apparent size measured with the data from the Keck interferometer, the researchers were able to determine a distance to the galaxy NGC 4151. Dr Hoenig says: “One of the key findings is that the distance determined in this new fashion is quite precise — with only about 10 per cent uncertainty. In fact, if the current result for NGC 4151 holds for other objects, it can potentially beat any other current methods to reach the same precision to determine distances for remote galaxies directly based on simple geometrical principles. Moreover, it can be readily used on many more sources than the current most precise method.â€?

“Such distances are key in pinning down the cosmological parameters that characterise our universe or for accurately measuring black hole masses. Indeed, NGC 4151 is a crucial anchor to calibrate various techniques to estimate black hole masses. Our new distance implies that these masses may have been systematically underestimated by 40 per cent.â€?

Dr Hoenig, together with colleagues in Denmark and Japan, is currently setting up a new program to extend their work to many more AGN. The goal is to establish precise distances to a dozen galaxies in this new way and use them to constrain cosmological parameters to within a few per cent. In combination with other measurements, this will provide a better understanding of the history of expansion of our universe.

A memorial scholarship has just been established in memory of Professor Peter de Groot, former head of the Physics and Astronomy department and the QLM Group at the University of Southampton. Professor de Groot was an experimental physicist, distinguished for his work on high temperature superconductors, optical and magnetic properties of ultra-thin films, and metamaterials.

To mark Peter’s successful career and his contribution to the department, a scholarship has been set up to support either the best photonics or nanotechnology undergraduate student for their 4th year of study.

This final year scholarship is worth £500 and will be awarded to the best student pursuing MPhys with Photonics or MPhys with Nanotechnology at the end of their 3rd year. There is no need to apply for the scholarship. It will be awarded by the exam-board in June.

Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southampton has once again proved its world-leading research status following the publication of the latest national assessment of research.

The department is ranked within the top 5 Physics and Astronomy departments in the Russell Group for its research output with the following results based on the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF):

• 94% of Physics and Astronomy research output is rated world leading or internationally excellent. • 100% of the impact of its research on society has been rated as world leading or internationally excellent.

Phil Charles, Head of Physics and Astronomy at Southampton said: “We are very proud of our REF results, which are testament to the sustained hard work of our outstanding academics. Achieving 94% is something we have aspired to since our very high rating in the RAE of 2001. We have maintained our high output standards for 20 years and this result confirms that our students learn from the best in a rich research-led teaching environment.â€?

The 2014 REF assesses the quality of research output, the impact it has had outside of academia, and the quality of its research environment. The results will be used by the four UK higher education funding bodies to allocate research funding. Currently, this amounts to £2 billion per year.

A University of Southampton researcher has helped solve a long-standing space mystery – the origin of the ‘theta aurora’.

Auroras are the most visible manifestation of the Sun’s effect on Earth. They are seen as colourful displays in the night sky, known as the Northern or Southern Lights. They are caused by the solar wind, a stream of plasma - electrically charged atomic particles - carrying its own magnetic field, interacting with the earth’s magnetic field.

Normally, the main region for this impressive display is the ‘auroral oval’, which lies at around 65–70 degrees north or south of the equator, encircling the polar caps.

However, auroras can occur at even higher latitudes. One type is known as a ‘theta aurora’ because seen from above it looks like the Greek letter theta – an oval with a line crossing through the centre.

While the cause of the auroral oval emissions is reasonably well understood, the origin of the theta aurora was unclear until now.

Researchers observed particles in the two ‘lobe’ regions of the magnetosphere. The plasma in the lobes is normally cold, but previous observations suggested that theta auroras are linked with unusually hot lobe plasma.

Dr Robert Fear from the University of Southampton (formerly at the University of Leicester, where much of the research took place), and lead author of the paper published in Science this week, says: “Previously it was unclear whether this hot plasma was a result of direct solar wind entry through the lobes of the magnetosphere, or if the plasma is somehow related to the plasma sheet on the night side of Earth.

“One idea is that the process of magnetic reconnection on the night side of Earth causes a build-up of ‘trapped’ hot plasma in the higher latitude lobes.â€?

The mystery was finally solved by studying data collected simultaneously by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Cluster and NASA’s IMAGE satellites on 15 September 2005. While the four Cluster satellites were located in the southern hemisphere magnetic lobe, IMAGE had a wide-field view of the southern hemisphere aurora. As one Cluster satellite observed uncharacteristically energetic plasma in the lobe, IMAGE saw the ‘arc’ of the theta aurora cross the magnetic footprint of Cluster.

“We found that the energetic plasma signatures occur on high-latitude magnetic field lines that have been ‘closed’ by the process of magnetic reconnection, which then causes the plasma to become relatively hot,â€? says Dr Fear.

“Because the field lines are closed, the observations are incompatible with direct entry from the solar wind. By testing this and other predictions about the behaviour of the theta aurora, our observations provide strong evidence that the plasma trapping mechanism is responsible for the theta aurora,â€? he adds.

“The study highlights the intriguing process that can occur in the magnetosphere when the interplanetary magnetic field of the solar wind points northwards,â€? adds Philippe Escoubet, ESA’s Cluster project scientist.

“This is the first time that the origin of the theta aurora phenomenon has been revealed, and it is thanks to localised measurements from Cluster combined with the wide-field view of IMAGE that we can better understand another aspect of the Sun–Earth connection,â€? he adds.

Two members of staff from the University of Southampton have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.

Colin Miles, a Facilities Manager within Physics and Astronomy, has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to higher education, while Cyrus Cooper, Professor of Rheumatology and Director of the Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, has been awarded an OBE for services to medical research.

Colin Miles has devoted over 35 years to the University of Southampton as Facilities Manager within Physics and Astronomy at the University. He provides technical support for teaching and research requirements in the University’s state-of-the-art research labs, and manages technical staff across various disciplines, such as mechanical and electronic workshops, teaching labs, procurement and research group technicians. Colin’s duties also include being the buildings manager and safety officer.

Colin comments: “I am delighted to be recognised with this honour, it came as a great surprise. When I moved to Southampton from the University of Oxford in 1978 it was with a great deal of trepidation, but with the support of the staff within Physics and Astronomy, and the University in general, it has been a wonderful career.

“Over my years, I have had the pleasure of working with some wonderful people. The relationship between the academic staff and the technical staff has made my role so much easier and worthwhile.â€?

Professor Cooper leads an internationally competitive programme of research into the epidemiology of musculoskeletal disorders, most notably osteoporosis. His key research contributions have been the discovery of the developmental influences that contribute to the risk of osteoporosis and hip fracture in late adulthood; the demonstration that maternal vitamin D insufficiency is associated with sub-optimal bone mineral accrual in childhood; characterisation of the definition and incidence rates of vertebral fracture; and leadership of large pragmatic randomised controlled trials of calcium and vitamin D supplementation in the elderly, as immediate preventative strategies against hip fracture.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, Professor Don Nutbeam, says: “Colin is an outstanding University manager whose career has been dedicated to the delivery and improvement of higher education. His immense contribution to seek continuous improvement in the standard of service and facilities offered by the University’s laboratories and other facilities has been invaluable.

“Through his extensive body of work, Professor Cooper has made essential contributions across several key areas of medical research and healthcare. I am delighted that his pioneering work has been recognised with this prestigious honour."

The University of Southampton hosted a special ‘Stargazing’ event for all the family this week

On Wednesday 7 January 2015 from 5 to 9pm, over 200 members of the public watched the stars from the comfort of the two Soton Astrodomes – the University’s inflatable mobile planetariums. Unfortunately, tours to view the stars and planets through the roof telescopes had to be cancelled due to poor weather conditions. As well as the Astrodome’s Planetarium shows during the evening there were astrophotography talks and astronomy lectures on black holes, auroras and life on other worlds.

There were a number of other free activities throughout the evening including hands-on activities from the University’s Astronomy Society, an ‘Ask the Astronomer’ stand, Astrophotography workshops and ‘World Wide Telescope’ tutorials.

Debbie Perkin and daughter Eden (9) attended the event, Debbie enthused:“We are just learning about the moon in our curriculum, so this event was perfectly timed!â€?

Dr Sadie Jones, Outreach Leader in Astronomy at the University of Southampton, said: “It was great to see the Physics and Astronomy department buzzing with conversations between members of the public and our academics about astronomy and stargazing. Despite the horrendous weather, which meant the roof top tours were cancelled, there was still a good turnout for the talks and planetarium shows.â€?

Researchers at the University of Southampton have proposed a new fundamental particle which could explain why no one has managed to detect ‘Dark Matter’, the elusive missing 85 per cent of the Universe’s mass.

Dark Matter is thought to exist because of its gravitational effects on stars and galaxies, gravitational lensing (the bending of light rays) around these, and through its imprint on the Cosmic Microwave Background (the afterglow of the Big Bang). Despite compelling indirect evidence and considerable experimental effort, no one has managed to detect Dark Matter directly. Particle physics gives us clues to what Dark Matter might be, and the standard view is that Dark Matter particles have a very large mass for fundamental particles, comparable to that of heavy atoms. Lighter Dark Matter particles are considered less likely for astrophysical reasons, although exceptions are known, and this research highlights a previously unknown window where they could exist and, with very general arguments from particle physics, derives some surprising results.

The research is published in Scientific Reports.

The proposed particle has a mass of 100eV/c^2, only about 0.02 per cent that of an electron. While it does not interact with light, as required for Dark Matter, it does interact surprisingly strongly with normal matter. Indeed, in stark contrast to other candidates, it may not even penetrate Earth’s atmosphere. Earth-bound detection is therefore not likely, so the researchers plan to incorporate searches into a space experiment planned by the Macroscopic quantum resonators (MAQRO) consortium, with whom they are already involved. A nanoparticle, suspended in space and exposed directly to the flow of Dark Matter, will be pushed downstream and sensitive monitoring of this particle’s position will reveal information about the nature of this Dark Matter particle, if it exists.

Dr James Bateman, from Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southampton and co-author of the study, says: “This work brings together some very different areas of physics: theoretical particle physics, observational x-ray astronomy, and experimental quantum optics. Our candidate particle sounds crazy, but currently there seem to be no experiments or observations which could rule it out. Dark Matter is one of the most important unsolved problems in modern physics, and we hope that our suggestion will inspire others to develop detailed particle theory and even experimental tests.â€?

Dr Alexander Merle, co-author, formerly Marie Curie Fellow in Physics and Astronomy and now at the Max Planck Institute in Munich, Germany, adds: “At the moment, experiments on Dark Matter do not point into a clear direction and, given that also the Large Hadron Collider at CERN has not found any signs of new physics yet, it may be time that we shift our paradigm towards alternative candidates for Dark Matter. More and more particle physicists seem to think this way, and our proposal seems to be a serious competitor on the market.â€?

Dark Matter may be a problem to be understood by crossing fields and looking for hidden possibilities. Dr Bateman adds: “Also from this point of view, the paper comprises a milestone on the history of our department: for the first time there has been a publication involving authors from all three groups in Physics and Astronomy, which shows how valuable it can be to cross boundaries and to look beyond one’s own field.â€?

We are pleased to announce Professor Vlatko Vedral as our first speaker in the Zepler Institute’s Quantum Science Distinguished Lecture Series. Professor Vedral will present ‘Probes of quantum behaviour in organic molecules’ next Wednesday, 11th February at 5pm in Building 2a (Music Annex) lecture theatre 2065.

Vlatko Vedral is a professor at both the University of Oxford and the National University of Singapore and is a world-famous expert in Quantum Information Theory. His research focuses on understanding the foundations of quantum mechanics and its implications in biological processes and thermodynamics. He is also known for his popular-science interpretations of quantum physics, broadcasting for BBC Radio 4’s Material World and writing accessible books and articles about the fundamental implications of quantum information.

Professor Vedral is an internationally-renowned scientist, skilled in the art of public speaking and his lecture promises to be an entertaining and lively presentation of his latest research.

The Quantum Science Distinguished Lecture Series will run throughout February and early March 2015, during which time we will have the honour of hosting talks from Professor Mark Loncar (Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences), Professor Jonathan Finley (Technische Universität München (TUM)) and Prof Kartik Srinivasan (National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)).

Whether you are an undergraduate, even in your first year, or a postgraduate, or if you simply have an interest in quantum science we welcome you to join us for these special events. For more information on each lecture and to reserve your place, please visit www.zeplerinstitute.com/events/forthcoming

Two researchers from Physics and Astronomy were among 21 University of Southampton PhD students and Early Career Researchers who presented their research to a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges at the House of Commons this week as part of the SET for BRITAIN poster competition and exhibition.

The researchers, Paul Gow and Joe Spencer, were chosen from a wide range of applicants, to encourage, support and promote Britain's early-stage and early-career research scientists, engineers, technologists and mathematicians who are an essential part of continuing progress in and development of UK research and development.

Joe’s work focuses on extreme nanowires. He explains: “My research covers wires at the absolute limit of the nanoscale, just 1-2 atoms in diameter.

"I am pleased to have been involved with SET for BRITAIN and getting the chance to engage with policy makers to tell them about my work, which could form the basis for future technologies.�

Paul Gow added: “I'm researching terahertz, which is light between microwaves and infra-red. It’s used for various applications from security and quality control, to art conservation and scientific research. My work is on improving the devices that emit this light. SET for Britain has been an amazing experience. It was great to meet researchers from all over the UK and talk to them about their work. It was also brilliant to communicate my work to MP's from all over the country - all in all it was an amazing, and tiring, day!

Andrew Miller MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee said: “This annual competition is an important date in the parliamentary calendar because it gives MPs an opportunity to speak to a wide range of the country’s best young researchers.

“These early career engineers, mathematician and scientists are the architects of our future and SET for BRITAIN is politicians’ best opportunity to meet them and understand their work.â€?

The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee run the SET for BRITAIN event in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry, the London Mathematical Society, the Institute of Physics, The Physiological Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Society of Biology and the Society of Chemical Industry, with financial support from BP, Wiley, Essar, INEOS, the Clay Mathematics Institute, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), the Bank of England and the Institute of Biomedical Science.

Physics and Astronomy hosted a special ‘Stargazing’ event for all the family ahead of the solar eclipse last week.

On Thursday 19 March from 5 to 9pm, over 200 members of the public watched the stars from the comfort of the two Soton Astrodomes – the University’s inflatable mobile planetariums. There were also tours to view the stars and planets through the University’s roof telescopes.

As well as the Astrodome’s Planetarium shows during the evening there were astrophotography talks and astronomy lectures on black holes, the solar system and the life of stars.

There were a number of other free activities throughout the evening including hands-on activities from the University’s Astronomy Society, an ‘Ask the Astronomer’ stand and free eclipse glasses were given away.

Dr Sadie Jones, Outreach Leader in Astronomy at the University of Southampton, said: “It was great to see the Physics and Astronomy department buzzing with conversations between members of the public and our academics about astronomy and stargazing.â€?