Professor Brad Gibson
The Galactic Terrestrial Zone in a Cosmological Context
People Involved
Project Description
The mineralogy of terrestrial planets is controlled by the elemental ratios of carbon-to-oxygen and magnesium-to-silicon. Earth-like planets are shaped by rock-forming oxide species, predominantly in the form of magnesium silicates such as olivine and pyroxene. Conversely, material rich in carbon with respect to oxygen leads to terrestrial planets rich in various carbide species and graphite. Informed by recent developments in the simulation of terrestrial planets and the statistics of planet-host star chemistry, the proposed student will model the evolution of the Milky Way and trace the spatial and temporal distribution of C/O and Mg/Si, identifying the fraction of the stars in our Galaxy that lie within what we call the Galactic Terrestrial Zone (GTZ). Of the 10 billion (roughly solar mass) stars in the GTZ today, we will predict what fraction formed from proto-planetary material with a chemical composition suitable for the formation of Earth-like extra-solar planets (low C/O; high Mg/Si), and what fraction form within Galactic pockets rich in the radiogenic isotopes crucial for heating terrestrial planets. Both semi-numerical Galactic Chemical Evolution models and fully cosmological chemo-dynamical simulations will be employed.
| Status | Project Complete |
|---|---|
| Value | £1,200.00 |
| Project Dates | Jul 17, 2017 - Sep 1, 2018 |
| Partner Organisations | No Partners |
You might also like
Astrophysics at the University of Hull Apr 1, 2018 - Mar 31, 2022
Poposed research is divided into six projects; their respective objectives are listed below in no particular order, given their equal importance to the Centre's research portfolio. The goals within each project are presented in order of priority....
Read More about Astrophysics at the University of Hull.
NAM2017 Conference Aug 1, 2017 - Sep 30, 2017
The Royal Astronomical Society is proud to present the National Astronomy Meeting from 2nd - 6th July 2017.
The E.A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Hull will be hosting the UK National Astronomy Meeting, where we will bring tog...
Read More about NAM2017 Conference.
Novel Nuclear Astrophysical Pathways to Constructing the Periodic Table Jul 1, 2019 - Apr 30, 2022
Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship to host Professor Tim Beers (University of Notre Dame) for 6 months in 2019-20; we will use a combination of proprietary experimental data for large samples of carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars in the Milky Way'...
Read More about Novel Nuclear Astrophysical Pathways to Constructing the Periodic Table.
Tracing Gas Flows Into (and Out of) Galaxies Jun 1, 2020 - Aug 28, 2020
RAS Undergraduate Summer Bursary - Mapping the flow pattern of gas into and out of simulated galaxies, employing high performance computing techniques; to support undergraduate student Sophie Eden.
STFC Introductory Astronomy School - 2021 Apr 1, 2021 - Sep 4, 2021
Blended programme of education and research for ~100 1st year postgraduate students from around the country, to be held the final week of August 2021; competitive grant process through STFC; Hull previously awarded £42k to run the 2016 training schoo...
Read More about STFC Introductory Astronomy School - 2021.