Gravitationally lensed explosive transients is an exciting and rapidly growing field, fuelled by the first discovery of a multiply-imaged supernova and the first direct detection of gravitational waves, and the upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory (Rubin). The basic idea is that the flux of radiation from some high energy events (e.g. supernovae, gamma ray bursts, and mergers of compact objects) in the distant universe is magnified and even split in to several images of the same event by the gravitational lensing effect of a massive galaxy or cluster of galaxies that the radiation encounters en route to our telescopes and detectors on Earth.
Detection and detailed study of this phenomenon probe a wide range of fundamental physics including tests of general relativity, the nature of dark matter, the expansion history of the universe, and the physics of explosive transients and their progenitors in the distant universe. In Birmingham we are at the forefront of research in to gravitationally lensed gravitational waves and their optical counterparts, and the role that galaxy clusters play in the broader field of gravitationally lensed explosive transients. We are pursuing this research within the framework provided by Rubin's Strong Lensing Science Collaboration, and the LSST:UK Consortium, for which Dr Smith is currently co-Chair and Commissioning Scientist respectively.
A PhD in Birmingham would see students joining these organisations and thus having Rubin data rights, and collaborating with us and our international colleagues on this cutting edge research. The PhD project will be constructed to suit students' strengths and interests, and for example can focus on analysis of observational data aiming to make ground-breaking discoveries, and/or modelling and interpretation of discoveries to learn new physics. To get a flavour of our work and the opportunities available to a new student, please take a look at the papers/links below.
The formal deadline for applications for Birmingham Astrophysics PhDs is January 15, 2023, although late applications can sometimes be considered.
Further details of how to apply are here: http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/phd/index.php, and you are very welcome to email me at [Email Address Removed] to find out more.
Links to papers and more info:
Discovering gravitationally lensed gravitational waves: predicted rates, candidate selection, and localization with the Vera Rubin Observatory
On the gravitational lensing interpretation of three gravitational wave detections in the mass gap by LIGO and Virgo
Enabling discovery of gravitationally lensed explosive transients: a new method to build an all-sky watch-list of groups and clusters of galaxies
Strong Lensing Science Collaboration input to the on-sky commissioning of the Vera Rubin Observatory
What does strong gravitational lensing? The mass and redshift distribution of high-magnification lenses
On building a cluster watchlist for identifying strongly lensed supernovae, gravitational waves and kilonovae
Deep and rapid observations of strong-lensing galaxy clusters within the sky localization of GW170814
What if LIGO's gravitational wave detections are strongly lensed by massive galaxy clusters?
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