OANNUALN REPORT 2011 E CAASTRO 1 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

CONTENTS

Introduction From The Chair 2 Vision & Mission Statement 4 Director’s Report 6 Research Programs 8 Case Studies 18 2011 Publications 26 Student Life 28 CAASTRO Launch 30 Governance 32 Membership 34 Awards & Honours 36 Presentations 38 Public Talks 42 Visitors To CAASTRO 43 CAASTRO acknowledges the support of the Australian Research Council Workshops 44 and of NSW Trade and Investment. We also acknowledge the fi nancial and in-kind support provided by our participating organisations – The Education & Outreach 46 University of , The University of Western , The University of Melbourne, Swinburne University of Technology, the Australian National University and Curtin University. CAASTRO In The Media 51 CAASTRO Locations 53 © CAASTRO 2012. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the CAASTRO Partners 71 Copyright Act 1968, reproduction of any part by any process without prior written permission from the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky is not permitted. Requests and inquiries concerning Scientific Linkages 72 reproduction and rights can be made by contacting Ms Kate Gunn, Chief Operating Offi cer (). KPI Dashboard 75 Financial Statements 76 www.caastro.org

Edited by Greg Bryant | Design by Go Media Design CAASTRO People 78 2 CAASTRO 3 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR

When Bryan Gaensler invited me to be the prospective On a more personal front, I am pleased to report that Chair of the CAASTRO advisory board prior to the I am delighted with the calibre of the members of the submission of the ARC application, it was too soon for advisory board, with their skills spanning the spectrum me to envisage the strength of the Centre. However, I of science communication, strategy and scientifi c knew Bryan’s passion for excellence and big thinking, know-how. I take this opportunity to formally thank so it was my pleasure to accept. In the short time that my fellow advisory board members for volunteering CAASTRO has been operating, it is clear that it consists their time for meetings and discussions. One of our of an extraordinary assembly of scientists, each of key meetings was the face-to-face gathering we had whom is working to increase our understanding of the in Perth last year, during which we not only met with fundamental nature of the universe. the executive but also many staff and students. The highlight of this meeting was a series of short, sharp The staff and students in CAASTRO are already and fascinating presentations by CAASTRO students enthusiastically developing innovative new ways and staff on their astronomical observations and to analyse the masses of data being collected analyses. These presentations confi rmed for us the by the current and emerging generation of super depth of the intellectual strength of the organisation, telescopes. This is a collaborative effort that spans at all times accompanied by good spirits, optimism nations and institutions, with much of the work of and enthusiasm. CAASTRO involving existing institutional allegiances and active partnerships. Our offi cial launch was in September 2011 at Sydney Observatory, creatively illuminated for the occasion, and In addition to the inspiring science, under the leadership with its own historical beauty that paid testament to the of Bryan and his fellow members of the executive magnifi cence of the CAASTRO undertaking. Governor team CAASTRO actively pursues a broader community Marie Bashir was inspired by the spirit of the occasion responsibility. Signifi cant time and effort are put aside and gave a stirring launch address. for public lectures, delivering in-school and remote school classes, and authoring articles for the lay Overall, the fi rst year has been a very promising community. In this pursuit CAASTRO goes beyond start and it is my pleasure to commend this annual the written and spoken word to include magnifi cent report to you. animations that leave lasting impressions with the audience. An exquisite example of this is the animation Alan Finkel AM PhD FTSE illustrating the diamond planet discovered by a team led Chair, CAASTRO Advisory Board by Matthew Bailes, CAASTRO executive member and professor at Swinburne University of Technology. 4 CAASTRO 5 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

The CAASTRO Vision The CAASTRO Mission CAASTRO will be the CAASTRO will carry out key science with 21st century telescopes, culminating international leader in wide-fi eld in the . Our underlying goals are: astronomy, positioning Australia To make ground-making advances in our understanding of to address fundamental unsolved DISCOVER the Universe, thereby cementing Australia’s reputation as a world leader in questions about the Universe astrophysical research; with the dramatic capabilities of next-generation telescopes and INNOVATE To develop innovative new ways of surveying the entire sky, advanced instrumentation. of processing enormous volumes of astronomical measurements, and of visualising complex data sets, so as to build unique expertise in wide-fi eld radio and optical astronomy; PERFORM To make high-impact discoveries using SKA pathfi nder telescopes, thus positioning Australia to lead the science programs planned for the SKA; EDUCATE To provide compelling new opportunities for students and early- career researchers and exciting stories to inform the public; and UNITE To bring the top from Australia and around the world together into a focused collaborative environment.

About CAASTRO Astronomy is entering a golden age, in which we seek underpinned by a strong focus on training and enabling to understand the complete evolution of the Universe the next generation of scientists, thus providing a and its constituents. But the key unsolved questions in legacy extending well beyond the Centre’s lifetime. The astronomy demand entirely new approaches, requiring students we mentor and inspire will lead the scientifi c enormous data sets covering the entire sky. discoveries made on future wide-fi eld facilities, In the last few years, Australia has invested more than culminating in the ultimate all-sky telescope, the Square $400 million both in innovative wide-fi eld telescopes Kilometre Array. CAASTRO is further motivated by the and in the powerful computers needed to process belief that science is a passionate undertaking and this the resulting torrents of data. Using these new tools, passion should be contagious. We aim to leverage the Australia now has the chance to establish itself at high impact and strong public interest in our discoveries the vanguard of the upcoming information revolution to highlight Australian innovation to the general public, centred on all-sky astrophysics. and to inspire students to consider careers in science and engineering. The ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics VISION & (CAASTRO) has assembled the world-class team CAASTRO is receiving more than $29 million in who will now lead the fl agship scientifi c experiments funding over the period 2011-2018. CAASTRO is led on these new wide-fi eld facilities. CAASTRO will by The University of Sydney, in conjunction with The deliver transformational new science by bringing University of Western Australia, The University of MISSION together unique expertise in radio astronomy, optical Melbourne, Swinburne University of Technology, The astronomy, theoretical astrophysics and computation, Australian National University and Curtin University and by coupling all these capabilities to the powerful complemented by a group of world-class Australian and technology in which Australia has recently invested. international partners. CAASTRO is pursuing three interlinked scientifi c programs, each of which can be addressed only with the all-sky perspective provided by wide-fi eld telescopes: A Universal Perspective STATEMENT . The Evolving Universe: When did the fi rst A universal perspective of the cosmos, exploring the form, and how have they then evolved? sky in its entirety not just section by section. . The Dynamic Universe: What is the high-energy A universal perspective of science, engaging that drives change in the Universe? teams, scientists and the public in an inclusive and . The Dark Universe: What are the Dark Energy and egalitarian way. Dark Matter that dominate the cosmos? A universal perspective of insight and discovery, All CAASTRO activities are based on the principle that understanding how knowledge can be used practically international leadership comes from commensurate in the wider world. investment in cutting-edge facilities and human capital. In particular, the CAASTRO research program is 6 CAASTRO 7 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

THE CALIBRE OF THE CAASTRO TEAM IS REFLECTED IN THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT EXTERNAL RECOGNITION THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THIS YEAR

the unique capabilities of the Sydney-AAO Multi-object Despite the relatively short lead-up time, CAASTRO As the complexity of our endeavour grows throughout Integral fi eld spectrograph (SAMI). has already convened or sponsored several events to 2012, I look forward to drawing on the broad experience promote our activities and to stimulate work in our key of our Advisory Board to help guide our way. For the Dark Universe research theme, CAASTRO research areas. The highlight was the offi cial launch of again has been successful in recruiting some talented I’d like to highlight the many people and organisations CAASTRO, by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, young postdocs and students from around the world. who have taken up the CAASTRO vision and who Governor of New South Wales, in September 2011 As part of this effort, Chris Blake, Tamara Davis, have so quickly helped convert a grant proposal into at Sydney Observatory. CAASTRO staff and students Warrick Couch and their team are working on a whole a vibrant, functional Centre. Foremost has been the mingled with international guests, ARC and university range of new cosmological constraints that can be generous funding provided the Australian Research representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, and extracted from the recently published WiggleZ data Council, by the NSW Government and by the member even an astronaut, as we embarked on our journey and set. Elsewhere, CAASTRO student Bradley Greig has organisations of CAASTRO. In all our activities, we highlighted our plans for the future. developed a new approach to simulating the high- are cognisant of the responsibilities that come with redshift Universe with graphics processing units On the scientifi c front, we co-sponsored no less than these funds, and have worked hard to make sure that CAASTRO’s fi rst year has been one of rapid growth, (GPUs), through which a single laptop can reproduce three international meetings in June 2011: conferences every aspect of CAASTRO’s expenditures are directly exciting accomplishments and substantial progress in a day what could only previously be done on large on “Telescopes for 21cm Cosmology” (Canada), “Gas aimed at meeting our overall goals. I also thank the toward all our goals. One of the main motivations supercomputers. in Galaxies” (Germany) and “Planning for Cosmology” organisations that have made substantial in-kind for establishing CAASTRO was to bring talented (Gold Coast). CAASTRO was also a sponsor of the contributions to our program, most notably CSIRO, As I’ve already alluded, the strength of CAASTRO is astronomers with diverse expertise into a focused inaugural “Women in Astronomy” workshop, held AAO and NCI. It is pleasing to see that our work with in its people. I fi nd it astonishing that at the end of our collaborative environment. An especially pleasing in Sydney in May 2011. Our activities for the year these agencies is not proceeding merely as client fi rst year, we already have over 90 members of our outcome of 2011 has been to indeed see a variety of culminated in November 2011 in the small town of and customer, but as genuine research partnerships Centre, including 20 research staff and more than a our researchers working together in new and innovative Bungendore, where more than 60 members of our team between two groups with complementary resources dozen PhD students. Most of the projects planned in ways as we set out to solve some of the key problems participated in our initial annual CAASTRO retreat. and skill sets. collaboration with our international partners are now of 21st century astrophysics. This was the fi rst time that many of us met in person underway, and I’m also pleased to report the addition In establishing CAASTRO, we have aimed to place the (and the fi rst time that the entire CAASTRO executive In CAASTRO’s Dynamic Universe theme, the of the Raman Research Institute as a new Partner best people possible into key roles, and the results had been physically together!) – the clear consensus unquestioned highlight of the year was the paper Organisation, with whom we will be working on a are already showing in the quality and professionalism coming out of the retreat was that CAASTRO was published in Science by Matthew Bailes and a large variety of reionisation experiments. We are currently of all our activities. Our indefatigable Chief Operating equipped with unique capabilities, and was already international team, on the discovery of a dense in the fi nal stages of discussion with several other Offi cer, Kate Gunn, has quickly become the heart and doing things that no one else can do. planetary-massed object orbiting a millisecond . prospective new partners, whom I look forward to soul of CAASTRO, and has repeatedly shown great This “diamond planet” is not just an important missing welcoming in 2012. Sadly, we have also lost a valued Our education and outreach program is in its early skill at gently steering excited scientists in the right link in stellar evolution, but proved to be a worldwide collaborator, with the unexpected and untimely passing stages but continues to build momentum. We have direction. I would also particularly like to highlight the sensation: our video animation explaining the discovery of CAASTRO partner investigator Prof Steve Rawlings. been fortunate to secure the talents of an especially work of our Events Coordinator, Susan Parker, who picked up more than 500,000 hits on YouTube in its Steve was an innovative researcher, a champion of the dedicated and creative outreach offi cer in Wiebke not only put together a stunning CAASTRO launch, fi rst 24 hours. Square Kilometre Array and a valued mentor and friend Ebeling. Wiebke has developed a web page for but just months later was able to repeat the effort Within our program on the Evolving Universe, we – we are still coming to terms with his absence. An CAASTRO full of news and timely information, by coordinating a highly stimulating and enjoyable have been able to quickly assemble a critical mass obituary for Steve appears at the end of this report. continuously promotes all our activities across annual retreat. Finally, I offer my deep appreciation to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and is working with the CAASTRO Executive team, whose vast supply of of observers and theorists, who have now begun The calibre of the CAASTRO team is refl ected in the the individual CAASTRO nodes on targeted programs of energy, patience, scientifi c muscle and common sense working together to search for the faint radio signals external recognition that they have received this year: astronomy festivals, video-conferencing into classrooms has produced a respectful, collegial and stimulating from the Epoch of Reionisation. A range of activities highlights included an Australian Laureate Fellowship and public lectures. Centre in which it is a thrill to participate. has commenced in this area, including development and the 2011 Malcolm McIntosh Prize to Stuart Wyithe; of algorithms for foreground subtraction, new the 2011 Pawsey Medal to Bryan Gaensler; ARC Future CAASTRO has been the benefi ciary of an engaged and supercomputing simulations of reionisation, and some Fellowships to Scott Croom, Tamara Davis and Chris proactive Advisory Board, marked by especially energetic Prof Bryan Gaensler early science from our marquee reionisation experiment, Blake; the 2011 AIP Women in Physics Lectureship leadership from Dr Alan Finkel. The CAASTRO Advisory CAASTRO Director the Murchison Widefi eld Array. and the 2011 Queensland Tall Poppy Award to Tamara Board met three times in 2011, each time dispensing CAASTRO has also taken on board an exciting new Davis; the 2011 Gruber Prize in Cosmology to Carlos frank advice, highlighting areas of our activities to which project in the Evolving Universe theme led by Scott Frenk; and of course the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics we need to pay more attention, and offering us access Croom, in which we aim to perform spatially resolved to Brian Schmidt. I hope this does not set expectations to their own resources and networks. spectroscopy of tens of thousands of galaxies using too high for 2012! 8 CAASTRO 9 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

THE EVOLVING UNIVERSE Theme Leader: Professor Stuart Wyithe | University of Melbourne

Two of the key questions in our understanding of the improve the FP relation’s use as a redshift independent RESEARCH Universe are how gas, stars and galaxies have evolved distance indicator. PROGRAMS over cosmic time (the time since the Big Bang), and The most remarkable fi nding is that the stellar when in the Universe’s time line did the fi rst galaxies population parameters vary through and across the form? CAASTRO’s Evolving Universe theme is centred plane, but show no variation at all along the plane, on providing key new insights into these problems. roughly corresponding to the parameter `luminosity CAASTRO researchers are searching for the faint radio density’. A ’s position along this vector is closely signal from the “Epoch of Reionisation”, the period when tied to its merger history, such that early-type galaxies stars, galaxies and quasars ionised the entire Universe. with lower luminosity density are more likely to have Our understanding of the history of the Universe has undergone major mergers. This conclusion is reinforced made considerable progress over the decades. The early by an examination of simulations, which show clear Universe, after the Big Bang of 13.7 billion years ago trends of merger history with this luminosity density. and the initial opaqueness of glowing plasma of ionised Their paper has been accepted for publication in hydrogen, was smooth and fi lled with neutral hydrogen Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. as the temperature cooled and allowed the ionised hydrogen to recombined with electrons. By contrast, today’s Universe is inhomogeneous and the hydrogen Reliability of Source-fi nding Algorithms is mostly ionised again. However, the intervening reionisation process is yet to be observed – and remains CAASTRO investigators Andrew Hopkins (Australian the last major phase of the Universe’s evolution since Astronomical Observatory), Ray Norris (CSIRO) and the Big Bang to be studied or fully understood. Tara Murphy (University of Sydney) have published an initial study of the source-detection algorithms The CAASTRO team is working on measuring the SExtractor, Selavy (Duchamp) and SFIND. stellar and neutral hydrogen content of 500,000 galaxies spanning the last eight billion years, thus The process of determining the number and allowing us to discriminate between competing theories characteristics of sources in astronomical images is so of galaxy formation. Astronomers are interested in fundamental to a large range of astronomical problems, neutral hydrogen as it is a key fuel for star formation yet no standard procedure has ever been defi ned that and also a tracer of both interstellar material within has well-understood properties with a high degree galaxies and the motions of galaxies. At the same of statistical rigour on completeness and reliability. time, astronomers are interested in the structure and The Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) survey properties of the stellar populations that form. Only with ASKAP, a continuum survey of the Southern by connecting the life-cycles of stars and gas will we Hemisphere up to declination +30° that is expected understand how galaxies form and evolve. to detect around 70 million galaxies, aims to utilise an automated source identifi cation and measurement approach that is demonstrably optimal, to maximise the Stellar Population Trends reliability, utility and robustness of the resulting radio source catalogues. This is a key requirement to handle CAASTRO PhD student Christina Magoulas (University the amount of data that will be collected by ASKAP. of Melbourne) and investigators Professor Matthew Colless (AAO) and Professor Jeremy Mould (Swinburne A key stage in source extraction methods is the University of Technology), in collaboration with background estimation (background level and noise astronomers in Australia and overseas, have published level) and the choice of a threshold high enough to an analysis of stellar population parameters for 7132 reject false sources, yet not so high that the catalogues galaxies in the 6dFGS Fundamental Plane (FP) sample. are signifi cantly incomplete. The team found, using In contrast to previous work, the team found that stellar a set of ASKAP simulated data that, for parameters population trends not just with velocity dispersion and FP which give similar completeness, the false-discovery residual, but with radius and surface brightness as well. rate method employed by SFIND results in a more reliable catalogue compared to the peak threshold The team’s ultimate aim is to derive distances and methods of SExtractor and Selavy. An elevated view of CSIRO’s new ASKAP antennas at the peculiar velocities for these galaxies, which will then Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, October 2010. Ant Schinckel, CSIRO be used to characterise the local galaxy fi eld and Their results have been accepted to appear in improve cosmological models. By accounting for stellar Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia. population variations in the FP, the team is hoping to 10 CAASTRO 11 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 PERFORM

SAMI IN ACTION - A spiral galaxy's dynamics revealed Recovering the Signature of Cosmic through hexabundle imaging and spectroscopy. The spiral galaxy in the left panel was one of the galaxies Hydrogen Reionisation observed with SAMI to give the image in the central panel. Redder pixels indicate more intense continuum The measurement of redshifted 21-cm emission from light along the edge-on galaxy disk. SAMI hexabundles neutral hydrogen promises to be the most effective give a spectrum in every fi bre core, or spaxal, from method for studying the reionisation history of hydrogen which the velocities of stars and gas can be measured across the galaxy. From these velocities, a rotation and, indirectly, the fi rst galaxies. These studies will image was constructed (right panel) in which the bluer be limited not by raw sensitivity to the signal, but parts of the galaxy are rotating towards us and the rather by bright foreground radiation from Galactic and redder parts away from us, showing that the gas in this extragalactic radio sources (typically brighter by 4-5 galaxy is rotating around a disk. orders of magnitude) and the Galactic continuum. CREDIT: Croom et al An additional challenge to detection of reionisation is that leakage due to gain errors and non-ideal feeds (collectively known as instrumental polarisation leakage) Dissecting galaxy evolution with conspires to further contaminate low-frequency radio observations. This leakage leads to a portion of the integral fi eld spectroscopy complex linear polarisation signal fi nding its way into 2011 saw the Sydney-AAO Multi-object Integral fi eld the non-polarised component of observations (known as spectrograph (SAMI) incorporated as a new project Stokes I), and inhibits the detection of the non-polarised within the CAASTRO Evolving Universe theme. SAMI is cosmological signal from the epoch of reionisation. a prototype wide-fi eld system that was commissioned Working with PhD student Paul Geil (University of at the Anglo-Australian Telescope in 2011. SAMI Melbourne), CAASTRO investigators Professor Bryan allows 13 imaging fi bre bundles (“hexabundles”), each Gaensler (University of Sydney) and Professor Stuart comprising 61 multimode fi bres, to be deployed over a Wyithe (University of Melbourne) have shown that 1-degree fi eld. it is possible to recover in an accurate manner the signature of reionisation late in the epoch of reionisation RECOVERING CAASTRO’s Scott Croom (University of Sydney), REIONISATION: A simulation in a team also including Julia Bryant (University of (redshifts around 7) within the sensitivity limits of the of the sky over the frequency Sydney), Matthew Colless, Andrew Hopkins (both Murchison Widefi eld Array. range 160-190 MHz, and Australian Astronomical Observatory), has published the steps needed to recover To achieve this, the team applied the rotation measure the fi rst spectroscopic results obtained with SAMI for a the reionisation signal. The synthesis technique (which utilises the Fourier top left panel shows the sample of galaxies at redshifts around 0.05, in a paper relationship between the complex linear polarisation raw data, which are totally accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the signal and the Faraday dispersion function) to the dominated by bright Galactic Royal Astronomical Society. synchrotron emission. At Stokes I component of a synthetic data cube containing upper right, the continuum SAMI allows spatially resolved spectroscopy to Galactic foreground emission, the effect of instrumental foreground signal has been be performed on a huge sample of galaxies over a polarisation leakage and redshifted 21-cm emission removed, but its polarisation wide area, allowing us to distinguish their individual by neutral hydrogen from the epoch of reionisation. leakage still dominates the This produces an effective Stokes I Faraday dispersion image. The middle two panels structural components. For the SAMI commissioning show successive stages of run, a wide cross-section of galaxy spectral types function for each line of sight, from which instrumental removing the polarisation were selected from the 6dF Galaxy Survey to evaluate polarisation leakage can be fi tted and subtracted. leakage via rotation measure the instrument’s potential performance for a range synthesis. In the bottom Their work was published in Monthly Notices of the of scientifi c applications. These commissioning row, the original input Royal Astronomical Society. reionisation signal (lower left) results demonstrate the exciting scientifi c potential is compared to the signal of multiplexed integral fi eld spectroscopy as the next recovered from the simulated step in galaxy surveys. SAMI will next undertake a data (lower right). very large survey of up to 10,000 galaxies, allowing us CREDIT: Geil et al. understand the physical processes (such as feedback and environmental effects) which drive galaxy evolution in the local Universe, a key goal within CAASTRO’s Evolving Universe theme. For more on SAMI, see the case study on pp20-21 12 CAASTRO 13 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

THE DYNAMIC UNIVERSE Theme Leader: Professor Matthew Bailes | Swinburne University of Technology A Carbon White Dwarf 130 minutes at an average distance of only 600,000 kilometres – the entire system would fi t inside the Sun. CAASTRO team members are playing a leading The companion’s proximity to the pulsar allowed the role in the High Time Resolution Universe Legacy discovery team to calculate how compactly this mass Survey, an ambitious project that is utilising the The Universe is anything but constant. The physical must be packed so the object is not tidally torn apart by Detection Rates for Transients with Parkes radio telescope and the Swinburne University processes that drive the evolution of the Universe the pulsar’s powerful gravity. This calculation implied Supercomputer to search the entire southern sky for are changing, violent, and not fully understood. At New Radio Arrays a maximum diameter of 60,000 kilometres (a little less fast transient radio signals, with a total proposed radio and optical wavelengths, the changing nature As we look to the new systems of radio arrays coming than half that of Jupiter), with an astonishing density of observing time of 6000 hours. of the sky has been largely unexplored due to the online that CAASTRO is working with (such as ASKAP, at least 23 grams per cubic centimetre. infrastructure needed to handle the data processing. the MWA and ultimately the Square Kilometre Array), Lead by Professor Matthew Bailes, the survey team’s At these densities, planets composed primarily CAASTRO’s Dr Jean-Pierre Macquart (Curtin University) other CAASTRO members include Dr Ramesh Bhat The main focus of CAASTRO’s Dynamic Universe of hydrogen or helium are ruled out, meaning the has explored the optimal strategies for the detection of and Dr Willem van Straten (both from Swinburne theme over the seven years of the Centre is the companion must be comprised of carbon or higher fast transient radio emissions. University of Technology), Professor Michael Kramer fi rst all-sky census of the variable and transient elements. Theoretical calculations suggest that it is (Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Germany), sky coordinated between both radio and optical Crucial to the detection of such rare events is the fi eld a carbon white dwarf, one that was once a massive and Professor Shri Kulkarni (California Institute of wavelengths. All-sky surveys for radio variability will of view available. The Parkes radiotelescope utilises star before losing much of its mass to the companion Technology, United States). be conducted using the Australian Square Kilometre multibeam technology, the MWA uses aperture array pulsar, spinning the latter up and spiralling out from Array Pathfi nder (ASKAP), the Murchison Widefi eld technology which has a very large fi eld of view, and In 2011 the survey team published in the journal Science what was once a very ultra-compact binary system. Array (MWA) and the Square Kilometre Array Molonglo ASKAP employs focal plane aperture array technology the discovery of a remarkable object, PSR J1719-1438. This evolutionary link to the class of stars known as Prototype (SKAMP). These radio surveys will be to achieve a fi eld of view of 30 square degrees. PSR J1719-1438 is a millisecond pulsar, the kind that ultra-compact low-mass X-ray binaries, the novelty accompanied by continuous monitoring of the sky The distribution of the interferometer elements and is born when a neutron star in a binary system accretes of the system, and the very low mass led to the at optical wavelengths with SkyMapper. Combined, processing limitations leads to a tradeoff between the matter from its companion and is spun up to a rotation publication of the discovery in Science. The probable these four surveys will allow CAASTRO to study the large fi eld of views and the sensitivity of the surveys. period of hundreds of times per second. In this case, the lattice structure of the carbon core of the planet led changing sky over a wider fi eld of view, at higher radio pulsar rotates every 5.7 milliseconds. Macquart’s work, published in The Astrophysical to a connection with terrestrial diamond, and the sensitivity, and over a wider range of time scales than Journal, investigated the underlying properties of a Observations indicate that a close companion’s system was referred to by the popular press as the ever before. CAASTRO staff members are developing transient’s population to its expected detection rate. gravitational tug periodically moderates the arrival “Diamond Planet”, leading to an astonishing amount the tools and techniques to maximise the scientifi c For events that are bright enough to be detected times of the pulsar’s radio signals. The object, slightly of media attention. return from these new telescopes whilst continuing to at extragalactic distances, the question is one of more massive than Jupiter, orbits the pulsar every use existing facilities in Australia and elsewhere. sensitivity-limitation, while surveys have to To do this though, and to manage the enormous consider that the volume of space is fi nite (the Galaxy’s amounts of data generated by these surveys, boundaries). Distance also plays an important role (is CAASTRO is involved in implementing new software the detection rate dominated by near or far objects?) algorithms and pipelines that can identify variables and since this determines how much scattering the radiation transients in an effi cient manner. All this information from the transient event is subject to. will then be processed using the supercomputers at Macquart has examined survey potentials depending the Pawsey HPC Centre in Perth and at the National on whether the telescope elements are in a collimated Computational Infrastructure in Canberra. By developing A DENSE COMPANION: The survey mode (i.e. every element is pointed in the same locus of the companion mass these innovative techniques to detect weak signals in direction) or in a “fl y’s eye” mode (i.e. each telescope and Roche Lobe radii for PSR large data sets, CAASTRO will also position Australia is pointed in a different direction). He has found that J1719−1438, selected ultra- to capitalise on the powerful capabilities that will be compact low mass X-ray binaries when the expected transient event rate is constant presented by the forthcoming Square Kilometre Array. and black widow millisecond over the entire fi eld of view of the survey telescope, for different assumed more events can be found using the “fl y’s eye” orbital inclinations. The zero- approach, while if there are large expected variations, temperature mass-radius relations from Deloye and Bildsten (2003) a collimated survey approach should be adopted on are also shown for low-mass the high event rate region. Helium and Carbon white dwarfs. The dotted line represents the mass-radius relation for low-mass Carbon white dwarfs computed by Lai, Abrahams & Shapiro (1991). For reference the mass and radius of Jupiter is shown with an X. CREDIT: Bailes et al. 14 CAASTRO 15 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

New Techniques for Radio Detection CAASTRO student Keith Bannister (University of Sydney), along with Tim Cornwell (CSIRO) has published a paper in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series on two new techniques for searching for dispersed radio pulses in interferometric data: the “Chirpolator” and the “Chimageator”. The Chirpolator operates by correlating the frequency THE DARK UNIVERSE swept signals (or “chirps”) received by pairs of Theme Leader: Professor Brian Schmidt | Australian National University antennas, while the Chimageator grids the cross- multiplied voltages from all telescopes of an array to form an image with each sampling moment.

Unusual Millisecond Pulsars Pulsars are usually discovered by searching for periodic, What is the ultimate fate of the Universe? It has been Testing Dark Energy with ASKAP dispersed radio emission, but new approaches such as known since the early 20th century that the Universe The High Time Resolution Universe Legacy Survey The Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) survey those proposed here will greatly increase the potential is expanding. The assumption was that the expansion team not only discovered the Diamond Planet, but also with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfi nder for discovering new phenomena. The authors derived would be slowing due to gravity, but it was unknown in 2011 reported the discovery of six new millisecond (ASKAP) will perform the most comprehensive census the principles of both techniques and proposed a if gravity would eventually slow down the expansion pulsars. All six millisecond pulsars are in binary ever undertaken of radio galaxies throughout the number of novel optimisations. Implementation costs suffi ciently to stop it. By measuring how fast galaxies systems, with the companions likely to be white dwarfs Universe. CAASTRO Partner Investigator Professor Ray of the new techniques were compared with classical were expanding in the early Universe, and comparing or very low-mass companions. Norris (CSIRO), together with several other CAASTRO methods using three criteria: the operations rates those to galaxies in the current epoch, the total co-authors, has shown that it will be possible to test Of the new discoveries, the millisecond pulsars PSR before and after the integrate-and-dump stage, and the gravitational effect in the Universe could be measured. Dark Energy using these galaxies in three different J1502–6752 and PSR J1622–6617 are unusual data rate directly after the integrate-and-dump stage. To measure the distances to galaxies in the early ways. Their techniques include how these radio amongst the population of millisecond pulsars in that When compared with classical methods, the techniques Universe, type Ia supernovae (the explosions of white galaxies congregate in space, how these galaxies affect they have relatively long spin periods of the order excel in the regime of sparse arrays, where they both dwarf stars) are used as “standard candles”. Those the photons of the Cosmic Microwave Background of 25 milliseconds, and yet they have short orbital require substantially lower data rates. The Chirpolator that have been discovered in the nearby Universe through an effect known as the Integrated Sachs-Wolfe periods (~2.48 and ~1.64 days, respectively) and also requires a much lower post-integrator operations have been found to be very similar in brightness, Effect, and fi nally, how the objects themselves are extremely small implied masses for their companions rate, although it requires more pre-integrator operations and so by discovering type Ia in distant magnifi ed by foreground galaxies. (~0.02 and ~0.09 solar masses, respectively). The than classical techniques. galaxies and measuring their apparent brightness, characteristics of PSR J1502-6752 in particular are While challenging, the techniques have the distances can be derived to a precision similar to currently unique, as other comparable millisecond The data and operations rates required by the potential to make some of the most constraining other leading distance methodologies. pulsars have considerably more massive companions. Chirpolator and Chimageator are well matched to future measurements to date on the nature of Dark Energy. This then suggests a formation mechanism that is best supercomputer architectures, for which the arithmetic In the 1990s, when two teams of astronomers, including This work was published in Publications of the described as improbable and puzzling for our current capability will outstrip the bandwidth capability. These the High-Z Supernova Search Team led by CAASTRO’s Astronomical Society of Australia. understanding of millisecond pulsars. new algorithms are therefore exciting possibilities for Dark Universe theme leader Professor Brian Schmidt, deployment on future interferometers such as the compared the derived distances of the early Universe The discovery of these six millisecond pulsars doubled Square Kilometre Array. supernovae to their apparent distances calculated by the number of this class that had been found and their redshift, they discovered that the supernovae were published during this project (several more are soon Frequency too faint – they were farther away than expected. An to be announced). The team also reported polarisation τ unknown force known as Dark Energy (represented profi les for all twelve millisecond pulsars, providing B by the symbol Lambda) was gradually accelerating the new data on the emission properties of these objects, sq(t) Universe’s speed of expansion. and the sample amply illustrated the wide variety of profi les that millisecond pulsars present. Based on the sp(t) f˙τ The current standard cosmological model is now one results, the team has argued that (contrary to what f˙ where only 4% of the Universe is made of normal atomic has previously been thought) the emission heights in Time matter. The rest is 73% Dark Energy and 23% Dark millisecond pulsars are a considerable fraction of the T Matter, both of which are unexplained phenomena. * DFT Amplitude light cylinder, and hence a large fraction of millisecond sp(t)s (t) Frequency q The goal of CAASTRO’s Dark Universe theme is to pulsars show emission from both poles. Time X pq[k] undertake world leading experiments using Australia’s N In addition, two of the dozen discoveries, PSR J1446- Sample & f˙τ wide-fi eld astronomical capabilities that will test the f s 4701 and PSR J1125-5825, have positions coincident f˙τ DFT current Lambda – Cold Dark Matter cosmological with gamma-ray sources identifi ed by the team from paradigm. These experiments will either constrain the the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Only a small x pq(t) properties of Dark Matter and Dark Energy, or will proportion of known millisecond pulsars have been k0 DFT Bin overturn the current orthodoxy. detected at gamma-ray wavelengths. This research has been published in Monthly Notices of the Royal FINDING FAST PULSES: Schematic illustrating The Chirpolator Astronomical Society. operating with two antennas. Top left: Two linear chirps are received by antennas p and q, with one delayed by a time . Bottom left: After taking the product of the two voltage time series, the result xpq has constant frequency over most of the duration of the chirp. Bottom right: The discrete Fourier transform of xpq yields a peak at frequency k0. CREDIT: Bannister and Cornwell DISCOVER 16 CAASTRO 17 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

The Problem of Lyman Alpha Absorption Simulating Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations

To test the standard model for Dark Energy, Many proposed tests of Dark Energy use the statistical Baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs) are sound and Professor Stuart Wyithe (all at the University of astronomers are measuring the precise effects of properties of how galaxies congregate in space. While waves that sloshed around in the Universe for its Melbourne), have provided a new technique for rapid gravity at greater and greater distances. CAASTRO’s the Lyman alpha emission of galaxies can make them fi rst 400,000 years. This sloshing is frozen into calculation of how this hydrogen gas is distributed in Professor Stuart Wyithe (University of Melbourne), easy to identify, the absorption of Lyman alpha from gas galaxies and gas today, with a scale that can enable the Universe as a function of the cosmological model. together with Dr Mark Dijkstra (Max Planck Institute around the galaxies can hide some of them. This hiding astronomers to make some of the most accurate Through this new approach, using graphics processor for Astrophysics), has published a paper in Monthly gas has a pattern of congregation that is similar to the measurements of the scale of the Universe. At very units, a standard desktop computer now takes less Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in which patterns of galaxies intended to be used to make precise large distances, corresponding to light now arriving than a day to replicate what used to require a month- he shows that at the largest distances planned to be measurements of Dark Energy. Using techniques in this from galaxies more than 11 billion years in our long supercomputer simulation. The greatly increased probed, about 11 billion years in the past, the way we paper, this problem can be at least partially accounted Universe’s past, astronomers are now undertaking simulation scope provided by this approach will select galaxies, using their Lyman alpha emission, can for, and will help these experiments to achieve their goal surveys to measure this acoustic scale using substantially improve our understanding of systematic interfere with many of the proposed measurements, of testing Dark Energy in the early Universe. hydrogen gas that absorbs specifi c wavelengths of effects in baryon acoustic oscillation experiments, and and make them less certain. light in the spectra of distant quasars. will therefore enable extraction of the best possible In a Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical constraints on Dark Energy from the data. Society paper by a CAASTRO team featuring PhD student Bradley Greig, Dr James Bolton, 3 -4 -3

HETDEX z=2.5 V=9 Gpc ngal=10 Mpc (Cv = 0 bC = 0 b+C = 2.5) 0.6 T 2.54 2.54 ,II = 0.05 , = 0.05

0.3 2.52 2.52 SIMULATING THE UNIVERSE T T T 0 2.5 2.5 ON A LAPTOP: Comparison bC b+C b+C of BAOs calculated using a 2.48 2.48 graphics processor unit with expected results from full 2.46 2.46 simulations. The four panels plot the amplitude of BAOs as 0 0.05 0.1 0 0.05 0.1 0 0.3 0.6 a function of spatial frequency Cv Cv bC for differing signal-to-noise ratios. The data points are

0.6 the BAO signature recovered = 0.05 T = 0.05 2.54 2.54 ,II , from a simulated Lyman-alpha dataset containing 1200 lines 0.3 2.52 2.52 of sight, while the solid curve

T T T is the expected BAO signature 0 2.5 2.5 bC

b+C b+C generated from the ratio of the input linear dark matter power 2.48 2.48 spectra with and without the baryon oscillation features. 2.46 2.46 The shaded region displays 0 0.05 0.1 0 0.05 0.1 0 0.3 0.6 an estimate of the cosmic variance error for the simulated Cv Cv bC survey volume. CREDIT: Greig et al

GALAXY STATISTICS: Expected constraints on power-spectrum distortions and transmission models from upcoming Lyman-alpha absorption line surveys. The six panels show contours of likelihood for various pairs of cosmological parameters. Contours of likelihood are shown at 61% and 14% of the peak likelihood. CREDIT: Wyithe and Dijkstra 18 CAASTRO 19 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

National Innovation Priority Case Study INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT CASE Professor Steven Tingay | Curtin University Mr Mehran Mossammaparast working on the EoR global signature experiment at the PSI laboratories STUDIES in Fremantle, Western Australia.

The CAASTRO Evolving Universe theme project to The collaborative engagement between CAASTRO and search for the Epoch of Reionisation (EoR) global signal PSI is an example of a fruitful link between academia is an extraordinarily diffi cult experiment in technical and industry, where the demanding requirements of astronomy. The project requires the development experimental work are helping to up-skill employees of very stable analogue and digital electronics and of technology companies. PSI are world leaders in the operation in an extremely radio quiet location, in order production of highly stable clocks and are able to bring to detect the formation of the fi rst stars and galaxies, that technical skill to radio astronomy instrumentation, when the Universe was less than 10% its current age. in the process gaining skills in other areas of design and manufacture. The development of the instrumentation for this experiment is being led by the Curtin University node PSI are a willing participant with CAASTRO in this of CAASTRO (Project Leader: Dr Randall Wayth), with collaboration, as an entry point to the Square Kilometre technical and engineering assistance from an industry Array (SKA) pre-construction era and in preparation for collaborator, Poseidon Scientifi c Instruments (PSI), involvement in areas of SKA development, in particular an SME based in Fremantle, Western Australia. PSI the low frequency component of the SKA. PSI hope to is supplying labour and materials, under contract to benefi t from the production contracts that will fl ow to Curtin University, to build the analogue electronics for construct the SKA itself. the experiment. Without a credible track record in advanced radio The experiment involves researchers from four of the astronomy developments, companies (global multi- six CAASTRO nodes, covering theory, observation, nationals and SMEs alike) will not be in a position to engineering and technical astronomy. Thus, the bid for work from the $2 billion SKA project. Thus, CAASTRO structure, funding and mission have allowed CAASTRO is assisting in this process by providing this experiment to be initiated, bringing together a opportunities, contracts and knowledge transfer to PSI, world-class team that includes Professor Stuart Wyithe, to give the company the best chance to compete. In Laureate Fellow at The University of Melbourne, WA doing so, CAASTRO is directly advancing the National Premier’s Fellow Professor Steven Tingay at Curtin Innovation Priorities, in particular “the innovation University, Professor Lister Staveley-Smith at The system encourages a culture of collaboration within the University of Western Australia and Professor Frank research sector and between researchers and industry”, Briggs at The Australian National University, as well as toward doubling the level of collaboration between postdoctoral staff and postgraduate students at these Australian businesses and universities over the next CAASTRO nodes. In addition, this project has the close decade, and “Australian researchers and businesses are involvement of the Raman Research Institute (RRI), involved in more international collaborations on research with long-term visits to Curtin University by RRI staff and development”. The SKA is a perfect example of an planned in order to undertake joint research in 2012. international collaboration where Australian industries should be aiming to participate. One of the PSI team, Mr Mehran Mossammaparast has joined CAASTRO in the role of part-time postgraduate Meaningful collaborations between academia and Masters student at Curtin University, to work on this industry are often not easy to initiate or manage. The project, further evidence of the close collaborative CAASTRO structure has allowed the collaboration with relationship between CAASTRO and PSI. PSI to proceed smoothly and gain pace quickly, with both CAASTRO and PSI benefi ting signifi cantly from Work on the fi rst version of the instrumentation the engagement. is almost complete and will be deployed for test CAASTRO students Sarah Reeves and Kitty Lo. observations in the second half of 2012. Photo: Jayne Ion 20 CAASTRO 21 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

National Innovation Priority Case Study COLLABORATION WITH PUBLICLY FUNDED RESEARCH AGENCIES Associate Professor Scott Croom | University of Sydney

One of the key aims of CAASTRO’s Evolving Universe elaborate interactions between the dark matter, stars, with their cladding mostly removed and then fused alignment was confi rmed, and by the end of the fi rst theme is to understand how galaxies have formed and gas and super-massive black holes they contain. The together to provide a close packed array with high fi ll night of commissioning the team had taken their fi rst evolved over cosmic time. The overwhelming diffi culty use of single apertures thus loses valuable information factor. SAMI uses the 1-degree fi eld of view of the galaxy spectra. Thanks to a near real-time data pipeline, in this fi eld is the complexity of baryonic physics, with and adds confusing biases. Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) in Coonabarabran they were even able to generate a velocity maps from multi-phase gas, star formation, dust, supernovae, to mount 13 hexabundles, which each contain 61 this early data. This early success demonstrates both What is lacking to address many of the most pressing super-massive black holes etc. all infl uencing the individual fi bres fused together. Each hexabundle the value of the ongoing collaboration between The current issues in galaxy evolution studies are surveys outcome of the galaxy formation process. The multi- can target a different galaxy. The light is then fed via University of Sydney and the Australian Astronomical of similar scale, but yielding spatially resolved maps parameter nature of galaxy formation has meant that optical fi bres to the AAT’s AAOmega spectrograph. Observatory and the enormous potential for the SAMI of galaxy emission. In a collaboration between The much progress has been made over the last decade by instrument. The fi rst major science projects will be University of Sydney and the Australian Astronomical The SAMI team, lead by CAASTRO Chief Investigator conducting massively multiplexed surveys, allowing initiated in 2012. Observatory, we have developed the Sydney-AAO Associate Professor Scott Croom (University of samples of up to one million galaxies to be constructed. Multi-object Integral fi eld spectrograph (SAMI) to Sydney) and including CAASTRO members Dr Julia These have, in turn, allowed detailed statistical specifi cally address this issue and take the natural next Bryant (University of Sydney), Professor Matthew analyses to be made, where the correlation between step forward in galaxy evolution studies. Colless and Associate Professor Andrew Hopkins (both the multitudes of physical parameters can be studied. Australian Astronomical Observatory), commissioned All of these major surveys have used a single optical the SAMI instrument in July 2011. After installing fi bre (e.g. the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey and the SAMI in action the instrument at prime focus on the AAT, the fi rst Sloan Digital Sky Survey) or slit to collect the light from observations tested the alignment and positioning of Central to the SAMI instrument is the use of a new each galaxy. Yet, galaxies are intrinsically complex, the hexabundles. As part of this, an observer (student astrophotonic technology, the hexabundle, developed multi-component systems with multiple structural Sam Richards) had to ride in the top end of the AAT, by The University of Sydney. These are optical fi bres components (e.g. disks, bulges, halos) and experiencing something that had not been seen for some years. The

The front face of a hexabundle from the SAMI instrument The SAMI plug plate assembly unit mounted onto the Prime Focus Team member Sam Richards prepares for a long cold night in showing the 61 individual fi bres fused together. Camera. The white “splice box” connects the blue hexabundles the triplet top end with SAMI. and orange sky fi bres from the brass plug-plate to the fi bre bundle. Photo: Samuel Richards Photo: Jon Lawrence Photo: Samuel Richards INNOVATE 22 CAASTRO 23 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

National Research Priority Case Study SMART INFORMATION USE Professor Matthew Bailes | Swinburne University of Technology

Many of the advances in radio astronomy over the past Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany, and Cagliari to program than traditional CPUs, the rewards are thirty years have come about because of the growth in Observatory, in Sardinia, Italy. The instrumentation’s immense. A single GPU can perform 1 trillion numerical computational power related to Moore’s law. As a radio ability to deliver high-quality digital data and process it calculations per second, some 100,000 times more who has been going to the Parkes radio in real time is astounding. Whilst in 1986 we delighted than the old computers I used in my PhD. The cost of telescope for the past 25 years, I’ve become acutely at being able to process two 10 megabit/second these units is often just a few thousand dollars. aware of two things; fi rstly, that “The Dish”, despite its streams in real time, our modern instrument “BPSR” In 2011, CAASTRO collaborators at UWA, Swinburne, awe-inspiring dimension, has not changed its collecting – the Berkeley-Parkes-Swinburne Recorder – takes CSIRO and Oxford PhD candidate Danny Price have area for the last 50 years, and secondly, that the 186,200 megabits every second and creates a digital been working on a new instrument that will soon be in information technology available to us is driving most radio spectrum every 3 microseconds that is averaged operation. Dubbed “HIPSR”, the system will perform of the new scientifi c discoveries. and sent to 13 computers, each some 1000 times both 21cm HI (Evolving Universe) and pulsar (Dynamic faster than the old machine I used for my PhD. There As a young PhD student I fi rst went to Parkes in 1986 Universe) observations and will make liberal use of 18 are many stages of fi ltering and averaging, but within a to perform observations for my thesis. Parkes was GPUs delivering over 20 terafl ops of computational few minutes we are using dedicated fi bre optic links to more isolated then, and making telephone calls from power. The GPUs will enable the scientists to eradicate transport the data to the Swinburne supercomputer at the tower was frowned upon because of the cost. impulsive bursts of radio frequency interference by the 400 megabits/second, some 5 million times faster than The computer that ran the data acquisition system real-time processing of 26 independent data streams. The server for the new HI and Pulsar (HIPSR) machine. was possible in 1986. cost about a quarter of a million dollars and had less Across the continent, some of the core data transport The silver boxes at the top of the rack are Reconfi gurable Open Architecture Computer Hardware (ROACH) boxes, computational power than an iPhone. Whenever we Once the data arrives at Swinburne it is split two ways: software is being redeployed at Curtin to aid in the developed by the Collaboration for Astronomy Signal used to send a job to the printer this overloaded the one stream goes to one of three tape robots that can operation of the Murchison Widefi eld Array. In the US, Processing and Electronics Research (CASPER) group system, sometimes causing it to crash, and we had to store up to 30 terabytes of information, and the other a team at is utilising this software at UC Berkeley. Some of the additional data processing patiently wait the 25 minutes for it to reboot. At huge stream goes to a 12 terafl op supercomputer for real- for their own low-frequency Square Kilometre Array machines can be seen in the bottom of the rack. Jonathan Kocz expense NASA had installed a 10 megabit per second time analysis. The installation of such a computer at demonstrator. link between Parkes and Tidbinbilla, and I was part of Parkes would overheat the building! On lucky days, the 2011 was also a good year for the science and a team that was adapting it for use in radio astronomy, supercomputer reveals new stars that we can follow-up techniques coming out of the CSIRO Parkes radio linking the two largest radio telescopes in the southern soon after their discovery. The growth in processing telescope by CAASTRO-supported personnel, and their hemisphere into a single instrument. power to the project is over 1 million times that national and international collaborators: published results available in 1986. Status information from the system The CSIRO had built a custom correlator involving include new techniques of interference rejection by Kocz is available on the web, and the whole system is the many person-years of effort, and it could, at a stretch, et al. and the celebrated Diamond Planet discovery, as result of many years of coding in complex scientifi c process the 10 MHz of bandwidth available from well as a host of millisecond pulsar discoveries. languages and scripts. each of the antennas. Many senior and not-so senior The scientists and software engineers developing scientists wrote custom software (mostly in Fortran Now when we go observing, virtually every astronomer these supercomputing tools are developing skills that and Pascal) to enable the correlator to adjust for the brings their own laptop to plug into a 1 gigabit/ are easily transferable to other areas, such as fi nancial changing path length to our stars as the world rotated, second internet network. Our external communications modelling, telecommunications, remote sensing, and after many years our science fl owed. have also been dramatically improved. In the control defence and weather forecasting. At CAASTRO room at Parkes and in the pulsar group headquarters The paucity of computing resources available in the however, the new Square Kilometre Array pathfi nder in Swinburne, two CISCO “telepresence” video tower was so limited that one scientist used to bring instruments coming online provide ample opportunities conferencing units are deployed. Literally at the touch his own (rather expensive) Macintosh computer into for the PhD students being trained to fi nd gainful of a button, high-defi nition video with low delays the tower. By attaching a 75 baud (bits per second) employment in developing the “killer-apps” for and exceptional audio quality is sent between the modem to the machine, he could link to the mainframes tomorrow’s radio telescopes. sites, enabling the Parkes control room to “expand” back in Sydney. At the time this appeared to be to incorporate the software engineers and scientists somewhat remarkable to me, watching him continue Acknowledgements: at Swinburne. The high quality of the picture and his work in Sydney, while 350 km away. The author gratefully acknowledges the cooperation audio makes the communication effortless, and aids in and contributions of the High Time Resolution Universe Fast-forwarding 25 years into the future, my team debugging faults and in boosting scientifi c returns. survey team over many years in the development at the Swinburne University of Technology has been Radio astronomy is fortunate in that it performs of BPSR suite of instrumentation at the Parkes 64m working on a new survey of the southern sky for many independent calculations that thrive on parallel radio telescope run by the CSIRO’s Astronomy and fast transients and millisecond radio pulsars with a processors. The latest contributor to the growth in Space Sciences division. CAASTRO also acknowledges big international team from CSIRO, the University computational power available to astronomers is the industry support from CISCO, Intel, Nividia, Dell and of Manchester, UK, the Max-Planck Institute for graphics processing unit (GPU). Although more diffi cult SGI in the development of these instruments. 24 CAASTRO 25 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Interdisciplinary Research Case Study Interdisciplinary Research Case Study MACHINE LEARNING GEOCHRONOLOGY DATA Dr Tara Murphy | University of Sydney Dr Cathryn Trott | Curtin University

One of the main aims of the CAASTRO Dynamic Results of machine learning classifi cation of During 2011, the Curtin CAASTRO Node was Astronomers are well-qualifi ed to undertake rigorous Universe Theme is to conduct massive wide-fi eld simulated VAST transient sources. To perform approached by Curtin University geologists to help mathematical and statistical analyses of datasets across blind surveys on next generation SKA pathfi nder the classifi cation, we fi rst extract features with the mathematical analysis of geochronology a broad range of fi elds, due to the solid foundation in from each light curve and then use a machine telescopes such as ASKAP and the MWA. To fully learning algorithm on the feature vectors. The data from lunar breccia zircon samples, obtained analytic methods that astronomy training provides. exploit the scientifi c potential of these surveys, rapid combination of all feature representations (a) during the Apollo missions. Dr Cathryn Trott, a The breadth and depth of skills and knowledge multi-wavelength follow-up of any interesting transient with the Random Forest classifi er (b) achieved CAASTRO Research Fellow within the Dynamic within CAASTRO provides a unique environment for sources will be critical. When transient events happen, the highest classifi cation accuracy (c). Universe theme, offered to perform an analysis of collaborative endeavour across a broad spectrum of we want to detect, and where possible classify, them Courtesy Umaa Rebbapragada, NASA/JPL-Caltech the dataset to fi t mathematically rigorous models scientifi c disciplines. as soon as possible, allowing us to deploy telescopes of dating data from two lunar sites, to determine Planetary science linkages fi t well within the broad around the world in near real-time. whether they had similar geological histories, and to CAASTRO vision, drawing upon the fundamental model the zircon growth. Hence one of the technical challenges of the Dynamic themes of a dynamic and evolving universe, in addition Universe theme is how to sift through the enormous In addition to this project, Dr Trott provided the analysis to leveraging CAASTRO’s experience with handling amounts of data we will receive, and make judgements to model the growth rates of Western Australian opal large and sophisticated datasets, and its focus on about what type of source we have observed through samples, adding a rigorous foundation to the hypothesis developing innovative data methods. automatic classifi cation of its light curve. This project, that crystal growth rate is related to large-scale climatic on machine learning classifi cation of radio light conditions over the Australian continent and the rate of curves, is being led by Tara Murphy at The University solar irradiance. of Sydney, in collaboration with machine learning researchers in the School of Information Technologies at The University of Sydney and at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. A The project has involved CAASTRO postdoctoral staff, CAASTRO PhD student Kitty Lo and undergraduate project students at these institutions. Using a set of simulated light curves representing some of the main classes of sources we expect to see with ASKAP (gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, extreme scattering events, fl are stars and others), we are investigating optimal feature representation of the light curves, and the accuracy of both online and offl ine classifi cation. Online classifi cation is a particular challenge, with the goal of assigning a probabilistic estimate as soon as possible after the initial detection. B Interdisciplinary collaboration is important for this type of project as it allows us to draw on the expertise of computer science experts in selecting and testing cutting edge machine learning algorithms. We are planning a paper on this work and will implement a prototype in the ASKAP transient detection pipeline.

Plot showing the measured ages of the opal samples, versus their position within the crystal (microns), refl ecting the growth of the crystal over time (asterisks with dating measurement errors). Over-plotted is a potential fi t to a model that incorporates a linear crystal growth rate plus an oscillatory component (solid line). The period of oscillations for the best-fi tting model matches the measured solar insolation rate for that period in history. C Cathryn Trott 26 CAASTRO 27 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

2011 PUBLICATIONS

Refereed Scientifi c Publications Norris, R.P., Hopkins, A.M., Afonso, J., Brown, S., Springob, C.M., Magoulas, C., Proctor, R., Colless, Allison, J.R., Sadler, E.M., Whiting, M.T. “Application Hancock, P.P., Gaensler, B.M., Murphy, T. “Visibility Condon, J.J., Dunne, L., Feain, I., Hollow, R., Jarvis, M., Jones, D.H., Kobayashi, C., Campbell, L., Lucey, of a Bayesian method to absorption spectral-line Stacking in the Quest for Type Ia Supernova Radio M., Johnston-Hollitt, M., Lenc, E., Middelberg, E., J., Mould, J., 2011, “The 6dF Galaxy Survey: fi nding in simulated ASKAP data”, Publications Emission”, The Astrophysical Journal (Letters), 735, Padovani, P., Prandoni, I., Rudnick, L., Seymour, N., Stellar Population Trends Across and Through the of the Astronomical Society of Australia, in press L35 (doi:10.1088/2041-8205/735/2/L35) Umana, G., Andernach, H., Alexander, D.M., Appleton, Fundamental Plane”, Monthly Notices of the Royal (doi:10.1071/AS11040) Huynh, M.T., Hopkins, A., Norris, R., Hancock, P., P.N., Bacon, D., Banfi eld, J., Becker, W., Brown, Astronomical Society, in press (arXiv:1110.1916) Bailes, M., Bates, S.D., Bhalerao, V., Bhat, N.D.R., Murphy, T., Jurek, R., Whiting, M., “The Completeness M.J.I., Ciliegi, P., Jackson, C., Eales, S., Edge, A.C.. Wyithe, J.S.B., Dijkstra, M. “Non-gravitational Burgay, M., Burke-Spolaor, S., D’Amico, N., Johnston, and Reliability of Threshold and False-discovery Rate Gaensler, B.M., Giovannini, G., Hales, C.A., Hancock, contributions to the clustering of Ly selected galaxies: S., Keith, M.J., Kramer, M., Kulkarni, S.R.; Levin, L., Source Extraction Algorithms for Compact Continuum P., Huynh, M.Y., Ibar, E., Ivison, R.J., Kennicutt, R., implications for cosmological surveys”, Monthly Lyne, A.G., Milia, S., Possenti, A., Spitler, L., Stappers, Sources” , Publications of the Astronomical Society of Kimball, A.E., Koekemoer, A.M., Koribalski, B.S., Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 415, 3929 B., van Straten, W. “Transformation of a Star into a Australia, in press (doi:10.1071/AS11026) López-Sánchez, Á.R., Mao M.Y., Murphy, T., Messias, (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19007.x) Planet in a Millisecond Pulsar Binary”, Science, 333, H., Pimbblet, K.A., Raccanelli, A., Randall, K.E., Keith, M.J., Johnston, S., Bailes, M., Bates, S.D., 1717 (doi:10.1126/science.1208890) Reiprich, T.H., Roseboom, I.G., Röttgering, H., Saikia, Bhat, N.D.R., Burgay, M., Burke-Spolaor, S., D’Amico, D.J., Sharp, R.G., Slee, O.B., Smail, I.R., Thompson, Bannister, K., Cornwell, T.J. “Two effi cient, new N., Jameson, A., Kramer, M., Levin, L., Milia, S., M.A., Urquhart, J.S., Wall, J.V., Zhao, G.-B. “EMU: techniques for detecting dispersed radio pulses with Possenti, A., Stappers, B.W., van Straten, W., Parent, Evolutionary Map of the Universe”, Publications interferometers: the Chirpolator and the Chimageator”, D. “The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 28, 215 The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 196, 16 IV: Discovery and polarimetry of millisecond pulsars”, (doi:10.1071/AS11021) (doi:10.1088/0067-0049/196/2/16) Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 419, 2 (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19842.x) Bhat, N.D.R. “Searches for radio transients”, to appear in the special issue of the Bulletin of the Astronomical Kocz, J., Bailes, M., Barnes, D., Burke-Spolaor, S., Society of India on Transients at different wavelengths, Levin, L. “Enhanced pulsar and single pulse detection 39, 3 (arXiv:1110.2562) via automated radio frequency interference detection in multipixel feeds”, Monthly Notices of the Royal Croom, S.M.; Lawrence, J.S.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.; Astronomical Society, in press (doi:10.1111/j.1365- Bryant, J.J.; Fogarty, L.; Richards, S.; Goodwin, M.; 2966.2011.20029.x) Farrell, T.; Miziarski, S.; Heald, R.; Jones, D.H.; Lee, S.; Colless, M.; Brough, S.; Hopkins, A.M.; Bauer, Macquart, J.-P. “Detection Rates for Surveys for Fast A.E.; Birchall, M.N.; Ellis, S.; Horton, A.; Leon-Saval, Transients with Next Generation Radio Arrays”, The S.; Lewis, G.; Lopez-Sanchez, A.R.; Min, S.; Trinh, C.; Astrophysical Journal, 734, 20 (doi:10.1088/0004- Trowland, H., “The Sydney-AAO Multi-object Integral 637X/734/1/20) fi eld spectrograph (SAMI)’ Monthly Notices of the Royal Mould, J. “A Next Generation Deep 2 micron Astronomical Society, in press (arXiv:1112.3367) Survey: Reconnoitering the Dark Ages”, Publications Geil, P.M., Gaensler, B.M., Wyithe, J.S.B. “Polarised of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 28, 266 foreground removal at low radio frequencies using (doi:10.1071/AS11036) rotation measure synthesis: Uncovering the signature Mould, J. “The Hubble constant and dark energy”, of hydrogen reionisation”, Monthly Notices of the Royal Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacifi c, Astronomical Society, 418, 1 (doi:10.1111/j.1365- 123, 1030 (doi:10.1086/661992) 2966.2011.19509.x) Greig, B., Bolton, J.S., Wyithe, J.S.B. “Fast, large volume, GPU enabled simulations for the Ly-alpha forest: power spectrum forecasts for baryon acoustic oscillation experiments”, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 418, 3 (doi:10.1111/j.1365- 2966.2011.19617.x) Attendees at CAASTRO's fi rst Annual Retreat held at Bungendore, NSW in November 2011. 28 CAASTRO 29 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

2011 CAASTRO STUDENTS University of Sydney Mr Keith Bannister THESIS TITLE Astrophysical radio transients: surveys and techniques SUPERVISORS Bryan Gaensler, Tara Murphy, Tim Cornwell Ms Kitty Lo THESIS TITLE Exploring the radio transient sky SUPERVISORS Bryan Gaensler, Tara Murphy Ms Sarah Reeves Benjamin McKinley THESIS TITLE HI and OH absorption line studies of nearby galaxies STUDENT LIFE CAASTRO PhD Student SUPERVISORS Elaine Sadler, Tara Murphy, Research School of Astronomy and Baerbel Koribalski (CSIRO) Astrophysics Australian National University (ANU) University of Melbourne Mr Loren Bruns Jr THESIS TITLE Ly- emitters as a probe of galaxy formation and Morag Scrimgeour ionization history CAASTRO PhD Student During the fi rst year of my PhD I have been involved SUPERVISORS Stuart Wyithe, Rachel Webster in an exciting new project – a precursor to the planned ICRAR, University of Mr Bradley Greig Western Australia (UWA) Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope known as the Kitty Lo Murchison Widefi eld Array (MWA). This innovative new THESIS TITLE Lyman alpha forest and Lyman alpha emitters as cosmological probes of dark energy instrument is currently under construction in outback CAASTRO PhD Student SUPERVISORS Stuart Wyithe, Jamie Bolton Western Australia, far from interfering radio signals. University of Sydney From the outset I have enjoyed support from the large, Ms Christina Magoulas international MWA collaboration and CAASTRO has THESIS TITLE Properties of Galaxies from the 6df Galaxy Survey SUPERVISORS Rachel Webster, Jeremy Mould (Swinburne), I am a 2nd-year PhD student with CAASTRO based at provided me with the opportunity to travel to Canada to meet fellow radio astronomers and learn more about Matthew Colless (AAO) the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research Mrs Jennifer Riding (ICRAR) at the University of Western Australia. studying low frequency signals originating from the early Universe. THESIS TITLE Extremely Low Frequency Radio Astronomy I completed my undergraduate degree in Mathematics I am a PhD student at the University of Sydney Techniques to Confi rm Epoch of Reionisation & Physics at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. My fi rst degree was in electrical engineering. However and my supervisors are Tara Murphy and Bryan Theories Gaensler. I have a double degree in Computer After this I decided to follow my interest in cosmology, my curiosity about the Universe drove me to study part SUPERVISORS Rachel Webster, Daniel Mitchel time in Astronomy and Astrophysics while working full Engineering and Physics from the University of New and am now doing my PhD in observational cosmology, South Wales. After my undergraduate studies, I trying to test the standard cosmological model, Lambda time as an engineer in the Air Force. It was during an Australian National University undergraduate research course at the ANU that I met spent a few years in the business world working as Cold Dark Matter, supervised by Lister Staveley-Smith a management consultant. My love of astronomy Mr Ben McKinley (UWA), Tamara Davis (UQ) and Peter Quinn (UWA). my current PhD supervisor. During our fi rst meeting he seemed so excited about the little dots on his screen eventually enticed me back to pursue a PhD degree. THESIS TITLE A Multi-Frequency, Spatially Resolved The fi rst part of my PhD was an analysis of the My PhD project is on radio transients which fi ts into Polarisation Study of the Giant Lobes of that I later found out to be distant radio galaxies, Centaurus A at Low Frequencies transition to large-scale cosmic homogeneity in the CAASTRO’s Dynamic Universe research theme. WiggleZ survey, working mainly with Tamara Davis imaged with the MWA. SUPERVISOR Frank Briggs (UQ) and Chris Blake (Swinburne). Before I began my PhD I was concerned that I For the fi rst part of my PhD, I was studying a unique Mr Jongwhan Rhee periodic radio star called CU Virginis. My paper titled I joined CAASTRO in July 2011 and am currently wouldn’t have what it takes to be a researcher (in THESIS TITLE Cosmic Hydrogen – Fuel for Star Formation “Observations and modelling of pulsed radio emission and Tracer of Baryon Flow working on a project with CAASTRO collaborators fact I had no idea what that really was!). However I have found that with the right people surrounding you from CU Virginis” has just been accepted to Monthly SUPERVISOR Frank Briggs Lister Staveley-Smith (UWA), Tamara Davis (UQ), Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. At the Brian Schmidt (ANU) and Chris Blake (Swinburne), and enough self-motivation and curiosity, scientifi c Ms Sharon Rapoport research is a career that anyone with the right moment, I am working on automatic classifi cation THESIS TITLE Gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars on measuring cosmology with galaxy peculiar algorithms for the Variable and Slow Transients motivation can get into and enjoy. SUPERVISOR Brian Schmidt velocities. In particular, galaxy peculiar velocities will (VAST) survey on the Australian Square Kilometre be measured by two upcoming Australian surveys, I believe it is also important for scientists to Array Pathfi nder (ASKAP). VAST will monitor millions Curtin University SkyMapper (using Type Ia supernovae) and WALLABY communicate their research with a general audience of sources in the sky once a day to look for transient Mr Mehran Mossammaparast (using radio-detected galaxies) and I will be making and encourage young people to learn about the world events. Finding interesting events in such a massive THESIS TITLE A Radiometric Receiver for Measuring Red- predictions of the cosmological information these will around them through science. CAASTRO is an excellent data set will be a computational challenge which provide. CAASTRO is supporting these two surveys, Shifted 21cm Hydrogen Monopole During the platform for this and has already provided me with hopefully my PhD project will contribute towards Epoch of Reionisation and will give me the opportunity for frequent travel to science communication training and the opportunity solving. CAASTRO provides exceptional opportunities SUPERVISORS Steven Tingay, Randall Wayth collaborate with my supervisors and co-researchers on to encourage the next generation of scientists through for students to collaborate and network with other the project, along with opportunities to broaden my ‘CAASTRO in the Classroom’. researchers in the fi eld. It was amazing to meet collaborations with other Australian researchers. University of Western Australia I am looking forward to the next two and a half years world-class scientists like Brian Schmidt and Shri Ms Morag Scrimgeour of my PhD and a fulfi lling research career beyond that. Kulkarni at the 2011 CAASTRO retreat. THESIS TITLE Measuring Cosmology with Motion in the Universe I feel like I am coming in to astronomy at the beginning of an exciting new era, with many new discoveries just SUPERVISORS Lister Staveley-Smith, Peter Quinn and Tamara Davis (UQ) waiting to be made. NAOC, China Mr Tao Hong THESIS TITLE Cosmological Structure and HI Observations SUPERVISORS Jinlin Han, Lister Staveley-Smith (UWA) 30 CAASTRO 31 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

CAASTROLAUNCH The CAASTRO Launch was held on the evening of 12 September 2011 at Sydney Observatory. Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales and Chancellor of The University of Sydney offi cially launched CAASTRO. A great night was had by all. All attendees and even passers-by were impressed to see the CAASTRO logo projected onto the walls and domes of Sydney Observatory. CAASTRO was also fortunate that Sydney Observatory agreed to display the historical information from the very fi rst all-sky survey of the sky, the Carte du Ciel (Chart of the sky). CAASTRO sees itself as the 21st century descendant of the Astrographic Catalogue and Carte du Ciel projects.

Left: Her Excellency Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW and Chancellor of The University of Sydney. Middle: Dr Alan Finkel AM, Chancellor of Monash University, Chair CAASTRO Advisory Board Right: Professor Bryan Gaensler, CAASTRO Director Photos: Jayne Ion

Sydney Observatory is part of the Powerhouse Museum. 32 CAASTRO 33 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

CAASTRO GOVERNANCE

CAASTRO is a collaboration between The University international liaison, policies, performance, fi nancial CAASTRO Advisory Board of Sydney, The Australian National University, The management, commercialisation and outreach. The CAASTRO Advisory Board met three times in 2011, including a two day planning meeting held in Perth University of Melbourne, Swinburne University of CAASTRO staff and activities at each Collaborating in August. The Board considered matters of strategy, responses to the changing external environment, the Technology, The University of Western Australia and Organisation are supported by a dedicated Centre research program, collaboration across distances, community outreach and industry engagement. Curtin University, the latter two participating together as administrative offi cer. They have also met with our students, researchers and professional staff. the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). CAASTRO is funded under the Australian The Management Team is: Dr Alan Finkel AM FTSE is the Chancellor of Monash University and Chair of the CAASTRO Advisory Board. Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence program, Professor Bryan Gaensler Research Director Dr Finkel is an electrical engineer, neuroscientist and entrepreneur, and has extensive experience in basic research, commercialisation, government, education and outreach. with additional funding from the six participating Professor Lister Staveley-Smith Deputy Director universities and from the NSW State Government's Science Leveraging Fund. Ms Kate Gunn Chief Operating Offi cer CHAIR MEMBER In 2011, the CAASTRO Executive met 11 times, As the Administering Organisation, The University of Dr Alan Finkel AM Prof Garth Illingworth Sydney manages the ARC grant and distributes funds in including face-to-face meetings at The University of accordance with the signed Collaboration Agreement. Melbourne, The University of Sydney, ICRAR and Chancellor Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics This agreement covers how the Centre is managed, and Swinburne University of Technology. Area meetings Monash University University of California Santa Cruz how collaboration and intellectual property agreements were also held throughout the year in Sydney, Canberra, are managed. Melbourne and Perth. All the CAASTRO Collaboration MEMBER MEMBER Partners signed a Collaboration Agreement which sets The six collaborating universities are represented on the out the way the research partnership will operate. In Ms Soula Bennett Prof Tanya Monro CAASTRO Executive, which meets monthly via video- addition a CAASTRO Multi-Institute Agreement (MIA) conference, and quarterly at a face-to-face meeting. The Director Director was signed by all the CAASTRO partners. Centre also has an Advisory Board that meets twice per Quantum Victoria Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing year via video-conference and annually face-to-face. CAASTRO is committed to gender equality and University of Adelaide participation, and our policies support family friendly MEMBER MEMBER Centre Management and fl exible working arrangements. CAASTRO offers all Mr Geoffrey Burchfi eld Mr Guy Robinson our jobs with a part-time option. The CAASTRO Executive team is responsible for Director Systems Architect the administration of the Centre, including research The following diagram shows the CAASTRO National Youth Science Forum Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, CSIRO output, research training, partnerships, national and governance structure:

MEMBER MEMBER Advisory Board Independent advice Prof Phil Diamond Dr Jesse Shore A. Finkel (Chair) Strategic focus Chief Science Communicator CSIRO Astronomy & Space Science Prismatic Sciences CAASTRO Executive Team

CAASTRO Director / Deputy Director / Outreach / Evolving Universe / MEMBER MEMBER U.Syd Node UWA Node Curtin Node U. Melb Node Prof Bryan Gaensler Dr Ziggy Switkowski B. Gaensler L. Staveley-Smith S. Tingay S. Wyithe CAASTRO Director Chancellor Dark Universe / Chief Operating Dynamic Universe / RMIT University Annual ANU Node Offi cer Swinburne Node report B. Schmidt K. Gunn M. Bailes MEMBER Prof Martha Haynes Finance Funds, Australian Research reporting Centre Offi ce Budget Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy Council Finance, administration, Science, Cornell University Funding operations, outreach Schedule, Strategy agreement Milestones

CAASTRO Nodes CAASTRO Partners & Collaborators U. Sydney U. Melbourne UWA CSIRO U. Queensland CAASTRO Executive CIs, AIs, staff, students CIs, AIs, staff, students CIs, AIs, staff, students (Left to right) Kate Gunn, Stuart Wyithe, Brian Schmidt, ANU Swinburne U. Curtin U. AAO International Matthew Bailes, Bryan Gaensler, Steven Tingay, CIs, AIs, staff, students CIs, AIs, staff, students CIs, AIs, staff, students Partners Lister Staveley-Smith 34 CAASTRO 35 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

CAASTRO MEMBERSHIP

CAASTRO has defi ned categories of membership, The University of Sydney Administering Organisation and individuals and organisations must apply to the The University of Western Australia Collaborating Organisation CAASTRO Executive addressing certain defi ned criteria to make their case for membership. The CAASTRO The University of Melbourne Collaborating Organisation Membership categories are: Swinburne University of Technology Collaborating Organisation Professional Staff The Australian National University Collaborating Organisation Chief Investigators Chief Investigators (CIs) are senior researchers CAASTRO Professional Staff are employees of a Curtin University Collaborating Organisation employed by collaborating organisations named in CAASTRO collaborating organisation who are classifi ed on the professional/general pay scale, or are working in CSIRO Partner Organisation the CAASTRO Collaborators’ Agreement. CIs are responsible for making a substantial intellectual and a professional role, and are funded from the CAASTRO Australian Astronomical Observatory Partner Organisation strategic contribution to CAASTRO, and for supervising budget or as an in kind contribution to CAASTRO. CAASTRO research staff, CAASTRO professional staff Professional staff are responsible for coordinating the Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy Partner Organisation and CAASTRO students. administrative, fi nancial, educational and outreach activities within CAASTRO. All CAASTRO Professional California Institute of Technology Partner Organisation Staff must have a CAASTRO CI or the CAASTRO Chief The University of Oxford Partner Organisation Partner Investigators Operating Offi cer as their line manager. Partner Investigators (PIs) are senior researchers Durham University Partner Organisation employed by partner organisations named in the Affi liates Max-Planck Institute for Astrophysics Partner Organisation CAASTRO Multi-Institute Agreement. PIs are responsible for making a substantial intellectual and CAASTRO Affi liates are researchers who have a The University of Arizona Partner Organisation strategic contribution to CAASTRO. Where appropriate, scientifi c association with CAASTRO, but who are they may also co-supervise CAASTRO students. not CIs, PIs, AIs or staff. CAASTRO Affi liates include The Partner Organisation independently funded researchers (e.g., Super Science Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Energies Partner Organisation Fellows working alongside CAASTRO researchers Associate Investigators at CAASTRO nodes), or researchers who have an Raman Research Institute Partner Organisation Associate Investigators (AIs) are scientists who are involvement in CAASTRO not warranting membership funded from a Collaborating Organisation, Partner at the CI, PI or AI levels. Affi liates are not responsible Organisation or other source, and who are participating for any CAASTRO research deliverables. All members of CAASTRO agree to: in CAASTRO research projects with specifi c . Support the goals, objectives and research of CAASTRO. deliverables. Associate Investigators are responsible Students for making an intellectual and strategic contribution . Accept the processes and procedures for joining, maintaining and leaving CAASTRO. to CAASTRO in their specifi c area(s) of expertise. AIs CAASTRO students are postgraduate students or . Allow the CAASTRO Executive the right to refuse membership to any organisation or person at any time. will be normally based in Australia, and will typically be honours students whose research projects make a . Accept the legal obligations that the Administering Organisation has with the ARC. researchers for whom membership at the CI or PI level substantial intellectual contribution to CAASTRO. A is not suitable for logistical or strategic reasons. CAASTRO student can be enrolled at any higher degree . Accept the intellectual property policy of CAASTRO. granting institution, but must have a CAASTRO CI as . Accept that all disputes regarding membership will be referred to the Research Director. an offi cial supervisor or co-supervisor. . Accept that membership is not transferable between individuals. Research Staff CAASTRO Research Staff are employees of a Visitors CAASTRO collaborating organisation, who are classifi ed on the academic pay scale, and are funded at FTE 0.2 Visitors are academics from outside Australia who or higher from the CAASTRO budget. Research staff spend time working at one or more CAASTRO nodes are responsible for producing the research, technical on a research project with CIs and other research staff. and outreach results associated with the CAASTRO A CAASTRO PI may also be a CAASTRO Visitor during milestones and, where appropriate, may also co- time spent working at a CAASTRO node. supervise CAASTRO students. All CAASTRO Research Staff must have a CAASTRO CI as their line manager. 36 CAASTRO 37 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

AWARDS & HONOURS NOBEL PRIZE CEREMONY | The Nobel Foundation 2011 | Photos: Frida Westholm

2011 was an exciting year for CAASTRO with many of our team receiving awards and honours for their achievements. Nobel Prize Medal Brian Schmidt

NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS ARC FUTURE FELLOWSHIP PRIME MINISTER'S PRIZES FOR SCIENCE | Tamara Davis CAASTRO’s Dark Universe theme leader Professor CAASTRO’s Associate Investigator Professor Chris Brian Schmidt (Australian National University) shared Blake (Swinburne University of Technology) has the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics “for the discovery of the received $573,000 in funding for the period 2011 – acceleraƟ ng expansion of the Universe through observaƟ ons 2015 for work on exploring the nature of Dark Energy of distant supernovae.” Two teams studying extremely distant with Australian galaxy surveys. supernovae made the discovery in 1998. The acceleraƟ ng expansion of the Universe is one of the core research components of CAASTRO’s Dark Universe theme. QUEENSLAND YOUNG TALL POPPY AUSTRALIAN LAUREATE SCIENCE AWARD AND AIP WOMEN FELLOWSHIP & MALCOLM IN PHYSICS LECTURESHIP CAASTRO’s Associate Investigator Dr Tamara MCINTOSH PRIZE Davis (University of Queensland) received the 2011 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award at CAASTRO’s Evolving Universe theme leader Professor the Queensland Premier’s Science and Innovation Stuart Wyithe (University of Melbourne) received an Reception. The award and prize of $10,000 recognises Australian Laureate Fellowship from the ARC, worth Dr Davis’s excellence in early career research and a $2.6 million over fi ve years. The Fellowship project is to passion for communicating science to the public. This study the fi rst galaxies and the Epoch of Reionisation. was also illustrated with her receipt earlier in 2011 of the Australian Institute of Physics Women in Physics Professor Wyithe was also the recipient of the Malcolm Lectureship, which has seen her embark on a schedule McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year at the of talks around Australia. Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science for his work on the early Universe. Also in 2011, together with researchers from Denmark, Dr Davis earned 4th spot on Physics World magazine's PAWSEY MEDAL | Photo: Mark Graham YOUNG TALL POPPY AWARD | Tamara Davis top 10 scientifi c breakthroughs, for developing a PAWSEY MEDAL groundbreaking method to measure cosmic distances in the Universe using light from quasars. CAASTRO Director Professor Bryan Gaensler (University of Sydney) received from the Australian Academy of Science the 2011 Pawsey Medal for GRUBER PRIZE IN COSMOLOGY research in physics for his pioneering studies of cosmic magnetism. Professor Gaensler’s development of new CAASTRO Partner Investigator Professor Carlos spectropolarimetric techniques has enabled him to Frenk, the Director of the Institute of Computational explore what role magnetism plays in the Universe, Cosmology at Durham University, was a recipient of both locally in the Milky Way and in distant galaxies. the 2011 Gruber Prize in Cosmology for the work that he and colleagues had done in modelling the large-scale distribution of matter in the Universe. 38 CAASTRO 39 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Invited talks 2011 Extreme Events: exploring the radio transient sky Tara Murphy, 2011 ASA meeting, Adelaide, Major Conferences Australia, July 2011 *this list does not include public talks or school talks HI in Galaxies, near and far Pulsar Populations Frank Briggs, A Quarter Century of DLAs, Ringberg, Matthew Bailes, Fab Five Fest, Puerto Rico, April 2011 Germany, July 2011 The Magnetic Milky Way Type Ia supernovae from sub-Chandrasekhar mass Bryan Gaensler, Understanding Galactic and white dwarfs Extragalactic Foregrounds, Zadar, Croatia, May 2011 Stuart Sim, IAU Symposium 281: Binary paths to Type Ia supernova explosions. Padova, Italy, July 2011 The Evolving HI Universe with DINGO Martin Meyer, Gas in Galaxies: from Cosmic web to The Square Kilometre Array molecular clouds, Kloster Seeon, Germany, June 2011 Lister Staveley-Smith, Feeding the Giants 2011 Workshop, Ischia Napoli, Italy, September 2011 Diffuse Radio Emission from the Milky Way Bryan Gaensler, Novel Telescopes for 21 cm New wide-fi eld optical surveys Cosmology Workshop, Penticton, Canada, June 2011 Brian Schmidt, New Horizons in Time Domain Astronomy, Oxford, UK, September 2011 Early Cosmic Web Stuart Wyithe, Gas in Galaxies: from Cosmic web to Explosive events in the cosmos molecular clouds, Kloster Seeon, Germany, June 2011 Shri Kulkarni, New Horizons in Time Domain Astronomy, Oxford, UK, September 2011 The Gas Accretion History of the Milky Way: Theory Carlos Frenk, Gas in Galaxies: from Cosmic web to Pulsars, SKA and Time Domain Studies in the Future molecular clouds, Kloster Seeon, Germany, June 2011 Michael Kramer, New Horizons in Time Domain Astronomy, Oxford, UK, September 2011 Supernovae: Remarkable Physics Triggering Extraordinary Stellar Explosions Brian Schmidt, Rossi Lecture Series, Italy, June 2011 Other Presentations Type la Supernovae, The Accelerating Cosmos, and Conferences, Workshops, Colloquia, Dark Energy Brian Schmidt, Rossi Lecture Series, Italy, June 2011 Project/Collaborative Meetings Peering back in time: Using Stellar explosions to Near the end: radio transients, the Chirpolator and the chronicle the History of Our Universe. little telescope that might have Brian Schmidt, Rossi Lecture Series, Italy, June 2011 Keith Bannister, Supernovae and Their Host Galaxies, Sydney, Australia, April 2011 Next Generation 2 micron survey: Beyond VISTA Jeremy Mould, Scientifi c Committee on Antarctic VAST: An ASKAP Survey for Variables and Slow Research - Astronomy and Astrophysics from Transients Antarctica (SCAR AAA 2011), Australia, June 2011 Tara Murphy, ThunderKAT Workshop, South Africa, April 2011 Studying Supernovae in the ELT-LSST-JWST Era Brian Schmidt, Supernovae and Their Host Galaxies, MWA Observational Strategy and Early Results Sydney, Australia, June 2011 Frank Briggs, EoR Foregrounds Meeting, Zador, Croatia, May 2011 Sub Chandra SN Models Stuart Sim, Supernovae and Their Host Galaxies, The WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey Sydney, Australia, June 2011 Tamara Davis, Experimental Physics Seminar Series, University of Queensland, Australia, May 2011 VAST: Exploring the Dynamic Radio Sky with the Australia SKA Pathfi nder Moon as ‘Calibrator’ Tara Murphy, Supernovae and Their Host Galaxies, Frank Briggs, LOFAR EoR Collaboration Meeting, Zadar, Sydney, Australia, June 2011 Croatia, May 2011 PRESENTATIONS CAASTRO Introduction to Pulsars Lister Staveley-Smith, 2011 ASA meeting, Adelaide, Matthew Bailes, Cagliari Single Dish Workshop, Pula, Australia, July 2011 Sardinia, Italy, June 2011 SkyMapper - part of Dark and Dynamic RFI and other constraints Brian Schmidt, 2011 ASA meeting, Adelaide, Frank Briggs, EoR + 21cm BAO Workshop, Australia, July 2011 Canada, June 2011 Cosmology 2011: Big Questions for the Decade Murchison Widefi eld Array Brian Schmidt, 2011 ASA meeting, Adelaide, Steven Tingay, Novel Telescopes for 21 cm Cosmology Australia, July 2011 Workshop, Penticton, Canada, June 2011 40 CAASTRO 41 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Little Things Impact of new science and techniques on the SKA-low Massively multiplexed IFU surveys: dissecting galaxy Visits to overseas laboratories and Se-Heon Oh, Gas in Galaxies: from Cosmic web to Design Reference Mission evolution molecular clouds, Kloster Seeon, Germany, June 2011 Frank Briggs, AAVP Path to SKA-low Perth, Scott Croom, ESO, Garching, Germany, October facilities - 2011 Australia, September 2011 2011; Imperial College, London, UK, November 2011; The Square Kilometre Array James Allison ASTRON Dwingaloo, The Netherlands University of Hertfordshire, UK, November 2011; Lister Staveley-Smith, Gas in Galaxies: from Cosmic Confusion University of Leeds, Leeds, UK, November 2011; Matthew Bailes Keck telescope, Hawaii, USA Cosmic web to molecular clouds, Kloster Seeon, Tamara Davis, Flinders University Colloquium, Adelaide, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, November 2011; Germany, June 2011 Australia, September 2011 Matthew Bailes Arecibo 305m, Puerto Rico Yale University, USA, November 2011; Liverpool JMU, The Cosmic Evolution of Molecular Gas in Galaxies, The WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey UK, December 2011; Durham University, Durham, Matthew Bailes Bonn 100m telescope, Germany Chris Power, Gas in Galaxies: from Cosmic web to Tamara Davis, University of Adelaide Colloquium, UK, December 2011; and, University of Portsmouth, Matthew Bailes University of California, Berkeley, USA molecular clouds, Kloster Seeon, Germany, June 2011 Australia, September 2011 Portsmouth, UK, December 2011 Matthew Bailes MPI for Radio Astronomy, Germany Gas in Galaxies: Predictions from Semi-analytic Models The evolution of hot and cold mode accretion Centaurus A observations with MWA Guinevere Kauffmann, Gas in Galaxies: from Cosmic Scott Croom, First eROSITA International Conference, Ben McKinley, MWA Project Meeting, Melbourne, Matthew Bailes GMRT, India web to molecular clouds, Kloster Seeon, Germany, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, September 2011 Australia, December 2011 Matthew Bailes GMRT Headquarters, India June 2011 Murchison Widefi eld Array Radio Emission and Magnetic Fields in Supernova Ramesh Bhat GMRT, India WiggleZ Results Daniel Mitchell, SKA Rutherford Innovation Showcase, Remnants and Pulsar Wind Nebulae Tamara Davis, Dark Cosmology Centre, Copenhagen, Wellington, New Zealand, September 2011 Bryan Gaensler, Phases of Late Stellar Evolution, Chris Blake University of British Columbia, Canada Denmark, June 2011 Macquarie University, Australia, December 2011 Radio Emission from CU Virginis Chris Blake University of California, Berkeley, USA Using the Moon as thermal comparison load for Kitty Lo, ATUC Science Day, ATNF, Marsfi eld, Large Scale Structures - series of 5 lectures Chris Blake University of Canterbury, New detecting the EoR global signal Australia, October 2011 Tamara Davis, Transregio Winter School on Cosmology, Zealand Frank Briggs, MWA Project Meeting, USA, June 2011 Tonale, Italy, December 2011 Parkes Update Frank Briggs National Radio Astronomy Imaging Bright Sources Matthew Bailes, CASPER 2011 Workshop, Pune, Accelerating Universe Observatory (NRAO), USA Frank Briggs, MWA Project Meeting, USA, June 2011 India, October 2011 Brian Schmidt, Uppsula University, Sweden and Lund University, Sweden, December 2011 Scott Croom Yale University, USA Dark Energy The 2011 Nobel Prize Brian Schmidt, Harley Wood Winter School, Adelaide, Tamara Davis, Colloquium, University of Queensland AGB Evolution Scott Croom Astrophysical Institut Potsdam, Australia, July 2011 School of Mathematics and Physics, Brisbane, Jeremy Mould, Macquarie MQAAA 1st Workshop on Potsdam, Germany Australia, October 2011 AGB stars, Australia, December 2011 Testing Galaxy Formation Models with Next Generation Scott Croom European Southern Observatory, HI Surveys Millisecond Pulsar Hunting Searching for Transient and Variable Radio Sources in Munich (ESO), Germany Chris Power, 2011 ASA meeting, Adelaide, Australia, Matthew Bailes, Parkes 50th Meeting, Murchison Wide-Field Array Data Tamara Davis Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr July 2011 Australia, October 2011 Martin Bell, MWA Project Meeting, Melbourne, Institute, University of Copenhagen, Australia, December 2011 Large-scale cosmic homogeneity in the WiggleZ survey Searching for fast transients with interferometric arrays Denmark Morag Scrimgeour, 2011 ASA meeting, Adelaide, Ramesh Bhat, Time Domain Radio Astronomy, CASS, RTS Status update Tamara Davis Alba Nova, Stockholm University, Australia, July 2011 Australia, October 2011 Daniel Mitchell, MWA Project Meeting, Melbourne, Sweden Australia, December 2011 New Surveys with the SKA Molonglo Pathfi nder Accelerating Universe Bryan Gaensler Pushcino Observatory, Russia Greg Madsen, 2011 ASA meeting, Adelaide, Australia, Brian Schmidt, AURA Oversight Council for Gemini MWA Calibration Limits: application to EoR July 2011 (AOC-G), Hilo, USA, October 2011 observations Bryan Gaensler DRAO, Penticton, Canada Randall Wayth, MWA Project Meeting, Melbourne, Results of the WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey Results of automatic, high time resolution GRB follow- Bryan Gaensler University of Oxford, UK Australia, December 2011 Tamara Davis, Particle Astrophysics, Strings and up with the Parkes 12m Bryan Gaensler Harvard University, USA Cosmology (PASCO2011), Cambridge, UK, July 2011 Keith Bannister (CSIRO), Time Domain Radio Multi-frequency imaging of Centaurus A Astronomy, CASS, Australia, October 2011 Ben McKinley, MWA Project Meeting, Melbourne, Hansik Kim Korea Astronomy & Space Science Dynamic Universe - Explosive Ideas about Massive Stars Australia, December 2011 Institute, Korea Brian Schmidt, AlbaNova Centre, Stockholm, Design and performance of fast transients detectors Sweden, August 2011 Cath Trott, ATUC Science Day, ATNF, Marsfi eld, Long Wave Array Status Jonathon Kocz University of California, Berkeley, USA Australia, October 2011 Steven Tremblay, MWA Project Meeting, Melbourne, Surveying The Southern Sky with SkyMapper: Learning Jonathon Kocz Harvard- Smithsonian Centre for Australia, December 2011 about Core Collapse Supernovae VAST : A real-time pipeline for detecting radio Astrophysics, USA 32T Transient Detection Pipeline, Tara Murphy, MWA Brian Schmidt, AlbaNova Centre, Stockholm, transients and variables on the Australian SKA David Lagattuta ASTRON, The Netherland Sweden, August 2011 Pathfi nder (ASKAP) telescope Project Meeting, Melbourne, Australia, December 2011 Jay Banyer, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Daniel Mitchell The Museum of New Zealand, New Large-scale cosmic homogeneity in the WiggleZ survey Systems Conference, Paris, France, November 2011 Zealand Morag Scrimgeour, COSMO11 International Conference on Particle Physics and Cosmology, Porto, Portugal, VAST Status Update Jeremy Mould Palomar Observatory, USA August 2011 Tara Murphy, ASKAP Science Meeting, CASS, Lister Staveley-Smith ALMA Observatory, Chile Australia, November 2011 Source Detection with next generation widefi eld Steven Tingay DRAO, Penticton, Canada interferometers Cosmology with ASKAP: what will we learn? Cath Trott, Astrophysics Seminar, University of Chris Blake, WALLABY simulations meeting, Sydney, Melbourne, Australia, August 2011 Australia, November 2011 42 CAASTRO 43 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 PUBLIC LECTURES 2011 "The First Stars in the Universe", National Museum of Natural Science, National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan, Mar 2011, Rachel Webster "Black Holes: the heart of a galaxy", National Taiwan University, Taiwan, Mar 2011, Rachel Webster "The First Stars in the Universe", Taipei Astronomical Museum, Taiwan, Mar 2011, Rachel Webster Super-luminous supernovae and the exploration of the optical transient VISITORS TO sky, National Astronomical Observatory, China, Apr 2011, Fang Yuan Discover the SKA, Sydney, Australia, Apr 2011, Bryan Gaensler Science, Speculation and Society: The Science behind the Fiction, PUBLIC TALKS Sydney, May 2011, Bryan Gaensler CAASTRO TEDxSydney 2011, Sydney, May 2011, Bryan Gaensler Surveying the Southern Sky with SkyMapper, Colloquium, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP), Paris, France, Jun 2011, Brian Schmidt TEDxSydney School of Astronomy, Macquarie University Association for Astronomy, International Visitors to TED is a US based not-for-profi t enterprise devoted Sydney, Aug 2011, Tara Murphy CAASTRO in 2011 to the propagation of “Ideas Worth Spreading”. TED 'Women in Physics Lecture', Sydney, Sep 2011, Tamara Davis Jon Bittner started out in 1984 as a conference bringing together Harvard University, USA people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment & Wollongong Science Centre, Public Talk, ‘The Dark Side’, Wollongong, Design. To provide the TED concept with global reach, Sep 2011, Tamara Davis Shami Chatterjee TED has created a program called TEDx, a program of Sydney Observatory, Public Talk, ‘The Dark Side’, Sydney, Sep 2011, Cornell, USA local, self-organised events that bring people together Tamara Davis Jayaram N Chenglaur to share a TED-like experience. Australian National University, Public Lecture, ‘The Dark Side’, Canberra, NCRA (TIFR), Pune, India The premier TEDx event on the Australian calendar Sep 2011, Tamara Davis Steve Croft is TEDxSydney, which in 2011 was held on 28 May University of Tasmania, Public Lecture, Hobart, Sep 2011, Tamara Davis UC Berkeley, California, USA at CarriageWorks in inner Sydney. In a spectacular RiAUS, Public Lecture, Adelaide, Sep 2011, Tamara Davis Mo Ganeshalingham program that included The Chaser’s Craig Reucassel, UC Berkeley, USA MacArthur Fellow Saul Griffi th and musicians Daniel Discovery of a diamond planet, Pune, India, Oct 2011, Matthew Bailes Johns and Paul Kelly, CAASTRO Director Bryan Yashwant Gupta 'The Dynamic Radio Sky' at the Astronomical Society of Western Gaensler was the day’s opening speaker. Prof NCRA (TIFR), Pune, India Australia (ASWA), Perth, Oct 2011, Randall Wayth Gaensler’s talk, “A New Way of Looking at the Sky”, Andrew Johnson presented the CAASTRO vision to 800 audience Astro Tour, Swinburne, Oct 2011, Jonathan Kocz University of Canterbury, New Zealand members, another 1000 people watching on the big University of Queensland, Public Lecture, Brisbane, Oct 2011, Tamara Davis Nick Kaiser screen outside the theatre, 48,000 people following Institute for Astronomy, USA the online stream, and another 80,000 listening to 'Celestial Teapot', Mornington Skeptics Society, Hastings, Victoria, Oct live coverage on ABC Radio National. Gaensler’s talk 2011, Rachel Webster Guinevere Kauffmann was subsequently posted to YouTube, where it has Max-Planck Institut Astrophysics, Professor Bryan Macarthur Astronomical Society, Sydney, Nov 2011, Bryan Gaensler been downloaded more than 1000 times. Another Germany Gaensler presents Completion Seminar: "Fitting the Near-Infrared Fundamental Plane CAASTRO investigator will soon be announced as at TEDxSydney. relation of Early-Type Galaxies’, Hercus Theatre, University of Melbourne, Markus Kronenberg one of the headline speakers for TEDxSydney 2012 - Photos: Enzo Amato Nov 2011, Christina Magoulas (PhD) MPA, Germany watch this space! "The State of the Universe", Blackburn Uniting Church, Victoria, Nov Shri Kulkarni 2011, Rachel Webster Caltech, USA Nobel Lecture: The Path to Measuring Australian Institute of Physics Victorian Branch, Nobel Prize in Physics Daniel Mitchell Cosmic Acceleration Public Lecture, Swinburne, Nov 2011, Warrick Couch Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, USA The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded by the Royal Nobel Prize Lecture- The Path to Measuring Cosmic Acceleration, Aula Ruediger Pakmor Swedish Academy of Sciences. According to the Magna, Stockholm University, Sweden, Dec 2011, Brian Schmidt MPA, Germany statutes, the Nobel Laureates are required “to give a Australian Embassy Talk, Australian Astronomer, Australian Embassy, lecture on a subject connected with the work for which Sweden, Dec 2011, Brian Schmidt, John Peacock the prize has been awarded”. University of Edinburgh, Scotland Accelerating Universe, Uppsula University, Sweden, Dec 2011, Professor Brian Schmidt delivered his Nobel Lecture Brian Schmidt Philip Podsiadlowski University of Oxford, UK on 8 December 2011, at Aula Magna, Stockholm Accelerating Universe, Lund University, Sweden, Dec 2011, Brian Schmidt University. He was introduced by Professor Börje Umaa Rebbapragada Johansson, Chairman of the Nobel Committee NASA JPL, USA for Physics. While Professor Schmidt’s lecture Other Public Talks by CAASTRO Members Jeff Silverman was on science discovered prior to CAASTRO, he UC Berkeley, USA acknowledged his CAASTRO affi liation in his opening Radio, TV and Interviews (22) slide of the Nobel Lecture. Education and Training Sessions (16) Stefan Taubenberger MPA, Germany School Talks (19) Mark Wagner Professor Brian Schmidt presents his Science Awareness Talks/Activity (13) Nobel Prize Lecture in Physics. UC Berkeley, USA Sveriges Television AB, Nobel Media AB 2011 44 CAASTRO 45 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Participants at Novel Radio Telescopes for 21cm Cosmology Participants at the Planning for Participants at the Gas in Galaxies Conference in the radio-quietness of Penticton, Canada. Cosmology Workshop Elaine Sadler WORKSHOPS Steven Tingay Chris Blake

Women in Astronomy | May 2011 Gas in Galaxies: From Cosmic Web to Novel Radio Telescopes for 21cm Planning for Cosmology | July 2011 Australia’s fi rst ever “Women in Astronomy Workshop” Molecular Cloud | June 2011 Cosmology | June 2011 The cosmology analysis team in the WiggleZ Dark was held on 13 May and was co-sponsored by Energy Survey held a focused workshop on the Gold This CAASTRO-sponsored meeting was hosted by CAASTRO convened a workshop in Penticton, Canada, CAASTRO. Coast in July 2011, thanks to CAASTRO support. Our CAASTRO partner institute Max-Planck Institute for to discuss the frontier topic of “Novel Radio Telescopes focus was to make signifi cant progress in the set of This workshop was organised as part of the Women Astrophysics and was held at the beautiful lakeside for 21cm Cosmology”. cosmological measurements we are pursuing using in Astronomy Chapter of the Astronomical Society venue of Kloster Seeon in Germany. The meeting Through the International Science Linkages program, WiggleZ data. Papers that have been submitted for of Australia and took place at CSIRO Astronomy was co-chaired by Guinevere Kauffmann (CAASTRO CAASTRO received $50,000 in funding from the publication in the following months include: the tightest and Space Science in Sydney. The reduction in partner investigator) and Lister Staveley-Smith Australian Commonwealth Department of Innovation, ever limit on the mass of the neutrino from a galaxy the percentage of women at each career step is an (CAASTRO Deputy Director). The opening invited Industry, Science and Research to support participation redshift survey, based on subtle details in the shape of issue that affects everyone, as women and men are talk was given by CAASTRO CI Stuart Wyithe. by Australian astronomers and our key US collaborators. the galaxy clustering pattern; a new measurement of equally talented and deserve equal opportunity, and Many valuable talks were given by other CAASTRO the “homogeneity” scale of the Universe, an important full participation of men and women will maximise attendees and international researchers. This unique coming-together of international experts test of the underlying principles of cosmology; and a excellence in the fi eld. took place in June 2011, featuring ten participants The meeting also brought together theorists and determination of the growth rate of structure using from Australia, and 41 researchers from the USA, Seventy-fi ve people (six belonging to CAASTRO) observers who were able to explore issues surrounding fl ows of galaxies into clusters and superclusters. The Canada, India and the Netherlands. from 16 institutes across Australia registered, and the accretion of gas onto galaxies throughout cosmic WiggleZ Survey has produced new and more accurate the whole process was very positive. Guest speakers time. A consensus among theorists appears to be that, Three CAASTRO Chief Investigators, one Associate measurements of the properties of the “Dark Universe”. included Dr Ros Dubs (Chair, Space Industry Innovation contrary to what was thought until relatively recently, Investigator and two Partner Investigators contributed Council) and Nicole McKenna (Vice President, National galaxies mostly grow by the smoothly accretion to the scientifi c program. These presentations and Foundation for Australian Women). of relatively cold gas, and that the accretion rate extremely extensive discussion of the theories and 2011 Annual Retreat | November 2011 determines the history of star formation. techniques that underpin 21cm cosmology resulted in The aim of the workshop was to discuss issues women A stellar fi rst year for CAASTRO culminated in a solid appreciation from all parties as to the full set of face during their astronomy careers and approaches that The importance of this accretion process varies our inaugural annual retreat in November 2011, experiments taking place. can be implemented by our community. A number of with redshift, halo mass and with environment. For for which 63 members of CAASTRO travelled to recommendations for both institutions and individuals the larger halos, accretion, galaxy growth and star Of particular note is the emergence of a new project Molonglo Observatory near the small country town of were presented to help women succeed in astronomy. formation appear to peak between redshifts of 1 and to design and propose a Phased Array Feed (PAF) for Bungendore, NSW. Across the course of two days, 3. For lower mass haloes and in low-density regions installation on the Parkes radio telescope. PAFs are participants enjoyed a series of research presentations CAASTRO Director Professor Bryan Gaensler reported the cold mode accretion continues until the present. advanced receiver packages that have been developed and interactive sessions, including keynote addresses ways in which CAASTRO is aiming to be family-friendly Theorists and simulators have not completely solved all for CSIRO’s Australian SKA Pathfi nder (ASKAP) project, from Professor Guinevere Kauffmann (Max-Planck and gender equitable. Starting with job advertisements, problems. To produce luminosity and mass functions directly related to SKA technology development. Part Institute for Astrophysics) and from Professor Shri it is policy to offer all positions either full-time or part- that are compatible with those observed, mechanisms of the science case for such an instrument is to study Kulkarni (Caltech). time, and of 12 recently appointed CAASTRO research which make accretion less effective for the smallest Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs), using the signal positions, two have been taken up part-time. The retreat provided an opportunity for CAASTRO and the largest galaxies are required. The most popular from hydrogen gas at moderate redshifts. members to meet - many for the fi rst time - and to At CAASTRO, we also ensure that core meetings take current mechanisms are feedback by active galactic At the 2011 International SKA Forum in Banff, Canada, learn about the Centre's overall goals. Collaboration is place between 10am–2pm so that people picking up nuclei and supernovae. the Penticton workshop on 21cm cosmology was central to CAASTRO's activities, and the retreat enabled children from school/childcare can attend important Good overall progress was made towards the goal of highlighted as an excellent example of the collaborative all participants to contribute to our plans for 2012 and meetings. Our Education & Outreach program will better understanding gas processes. Of particular note and international approach that Australia is taking in the beyond. A "mentor speed-dating" exercise matched involve mentoring for early-career researchers and for was the excellent collaboration between theorists, SKA arena. CAASTRO members in areas of common interest girls in science. simulators and observers. The complexity of gas and opened dialogue between students, early career accretion and star-formation from gas clouds is such researchers and senior scientists across CAASTRO. that these groups need to work together to make substantial progress in the future. And of course, there was continued anticipation of new results which will come from the SKA pathfi nders. CAASTRO is delighted to thank the Max-Planck Institute for hosting this highly successful meeting. 46 CAASTRO 47 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Greg Madsen provides advice to students at the “Maths and Science EXPOsed” event. Paul Hancock

The Education & Outreach program of CAASTRO is on 12 September 2011, and our YouTube channel of Trade & Investment, Regional Infrastructure & administered through the Curtin University node and (www.youtube.com/user/AstroCentre). Regular updates Services to strengthen CAASTRO’s involvement in is managed by Chief Investigator Professor Steven to the website ensured that CAASTRO was a point of public outreach and school engagement. As part Tingay and program coordinator Dr Wiebke Ebeling. contact for the interested public to get to know us, of this agreement, Dr Madsen, together with his With Dr Ebeling's appointment on 1 July 2011, most to read up on major scientifi c outputs by CAASTRO CAASTRO colleague, Dr Paul Hancock took part in of the activity in this area took place in the second members, and to turn to CAASTRO as a potential the public annual event “Maths & Science EXPOsed” half of the year. Being CAASTRO’s fi rst year, Dr employer. In the fi rst four months of operation, we which was hosted by the University of Western Ebeling's key objectives were to meet the CAASTRO attracted over 11,000 visitors to the website. With Sydney on 26 August 2011. Dr Madsen is also team to develop our commitment to Education & matched numbers of repeat and new visitors to the making use of the “Connected Classrooms” capability Outreach, to work towards a feeling of unity among website, CAASTRO’s coverage is increasing steadily, of the NSW Department of Education & Communities. members at the six rapidly growing Australian nodes, and we are clearly reaching out to an international CAASTRO members (local and national) give seminars and to evaluate the most promising approaches to the audience (80% of WWW site hits from overseas in via video-conferencing technology to reach high CAASTRO outreach program. 2011), as well as to the Australian community. school students in both metropolitan and regional areas. Two trial sessions with two consecutive In the light of the potential for duplication of existing The CAASTRO YouTube channel is instrumental in our identical seminars each were run in October and outreach programs in Australian capital cities, we outreach strategy: it allows us to communicate our CAASTRO's Facebook page November 2011 and were organised in collaboration have decided on an outreach strategy that is strongly science to a diverse audience, it vastly increases the with Dr Richard Morante (NSW Department of focussed on reaching diversifi ed demographics through return from public talks, seminars and press releases, Education & Communities) to fi t the NSW curriculum. social media. it lets us quickly raise awareness of our research In 2011, Dr Madsen delivered seminars on the topic equipment and fi eld sites. We created our YouTube Throughout 2011, we used Twitter (twitter.com/ of “Einstein and Special Relativity” (to approximately account in late August and had 36 videos uploaded caastro.arc) for approximately 200 updates to the 200 students) which corresponds to the Physics Stage by the end of 2011. These videos include informative community about CAASTRO news and events. A 6 Syllabus. In line with our overall outreach strategy, material on CAASTRO’s all-sky approach (one of second channel to promote CAASTRO is our Facebook his seminar was recorded and uploaded to YouTube to which we translated into seven languages), seminar page (www.facebook.com/caastro_arc), which not be available to viewers beyond the initial audience of recordings, researcher profi les, facilities that are used only serves as a forum for more in-depth news items NSW students. in CAASTRO research, and contributions to community but also as a repository for photos and short videos. engagement. In those four months of YouTube activity, In 2011, stories on this page were viewed by over we had over 1500 individual video views (45% from 70,000 users. The number of monthly active users has Australia) with the strong indication of increased uptake increased by 400% over the course of the year. later in the year. Our main conduits for establishing a strong and At the University of Sydney, CAASTRO Senior discoverable internet presence and to feature our Paul Hancock explains telescope use to students at the "Maths Research Fellow Dr Greg Madsen is co-funded through and Science EXPOsed" event in Parramatta. research are our website (www.caastro.org), launched the New South Wales State Government's Department Credit: Greg Madsen 48 CAASTRO 49 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Group discussion at the fi rst CAASTRO professional training program, held following the Annual Retreat. The facilitator from Econnect Communication (left) is shown with CAASTRO researcher Dr Cathryn Trott.

CAASTRO Director Bryan Gaensler with students Kitty Lo PROFESSIONAL TRAINING and Sarah Reeves & RESEARCH EDUCATION CAASTRO MENTORING

Professional training is an important part of every In addition, we aim to encourage our students to For the benefi t of both our senior and junior team preferred mentor/s and mentee/s, and all responses individual's career within CAASTRO: to extend the establish their scientifi c networks and collaborations members across CAASTRO, a pilot internal mentoring were collected for evaluation by the CAASTRO breadth of their knowledge and skills, to increase early in their academic careers – given CAASTRO program has been initiated. We are expecting mentoring Education & Outreach Coordinator. competitiveness in grant or job applications, and to provides such a rich resource in expertise and facilities. relationships to provide our staff and students with This immediately led to 45 mentoring pairs where work towards research goals. Facilitating access to By connecting the six node universities via video- a better understanding of the diversity of CAASTRO nominations were mutual (23 mentors, i.e. two professional and personal development opportunities conferencing technology, we are developing “Virtual research projects, to allow them to extend their mentees per mentor on average). As we were fortunate for our CAASTRO team members is a signifi cant Workshops” with time for student presentations and professional networks, and to provide personal support to not only have CAASTRO members from the six aspect of the Education & Outreach portfolio. We are discussions. An external mentor will usually be present to all participants. It was agreed by the CAASTRO Australian node universities attending the Annual especially committed to delivering targeted training and to offer guidance and career advice to supplement their Executive from the outset that the right pairing of Retreat but also from our partner organisations scientifi c networking to CAASTRO team members. supervision. The fi rst of these “Virtual Workshops” is mentor and mentee would be crucial to the success CSIRO and AAO, and from two international partner planned for early 2012 to unite our student community of the program. Individual preferences for a mentoring In conjunction with the 2011 Annual Retreat, we organisations, the networking and professional across CAASTRO. partner were considered more important than direct invited our staff and students to participate in a full day development opportunities provided by this mentoring science overlap. “Communication Skills & Media Training” workshop program are substantial. run by Econnect Communication Pty Ltd. Topics We started the program at the fi rst CAASTRO In the course of 2012, the Chief Operating Offi cer and covered in this workshop were how to effectively Annual Retreat in November 2011 by guiding the the CAASTRO Education & Outreach Coordinator will structure and deliver a presentation to a non-technical participants through a group exercise analogous to continue to develop the program. The program will be audience and how to communicate our science in "speed-dating". We divided people up into 15 groups monitored, and activities will be designed to support interviews and media releases. Future topics for these of four CAASTRO members each; we gave them three the mentoring partners in their relationship. The 2012 professionally facilitated events are “Writing successful minutes to get to know each other, after which the Annual Retreat will again include a mentoring session to grant applications” and “Project Management” with the groups were re-shuffl ed. At the end of this exercise fi ne-tune and expand this program. option of registering for a junior or senior level. all participants were encouraged to nominate their EDUCATE 50 CAASTRO 51 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Far left; The MWA Receiver with Professor Steven Tingay (Node Leader, ICRAR - Curtin University; left), Jesse Searls (Managing Director, Poseidon Scientifi c Instruments; 2nd from left), Derek Carroll (Poseidon Scientifi c Instruments, 2nd from right), and Mark Waterson (Research Engineer, ICRAR - Curtin University; right). Image credit: ICRAR Left: Professor Brian Schmidt presents his Nobel Prize Lecture. Nobel Media AB 2011

CAASTRO Annual Retreat at Bungendore in November 2011. CAASTRO IN THE MEDIA

CAASTRO is very fortunate to have a team of top During 2011, our Dynamic Universe theme leader researchers whose scientifi c achievements not only Matthew Bailes created a media sensation with his attract attention among their peers but also from the discovery of the "diamond planet", which he reported local, national and international media. In 2011, we in the journal Science in August 2011 (see Media had many occasions to celebrate our researchers’ Case Study on page 52). Further to his huge scientifi c EDUCATION & OUTREACH ACTIVITY PLAN various successes. CAASTRO Director Bryan Gaensler success, Bailes was able to gather a large audience of published his fi rst book “Extreme Cosmos” (New readers with his online articles for The Conversation. South Books, September 2011), charting the hottest, His op-ed on “Diamond planets, climate change and the brightest, oldest, biggest, fastest, heaviest and scientifi c method” (13 September 2011) was ranked loudest objects in the Universe. This book is yet one #3 top article on The Conversation in 2011, reaching Fuelled by the positive trends we have been seeing in Australian node universities of CAASTRO and from our more testimony of Gaensler's passion for and skills over 70,000 readers. in communicating science to the public. Associated public awareness of our social media channels, we plan Partner Investigators at the Australian Astronomical The single most signifi cant event for our researchers with the publication of "Extreme Cosmos", Gaensler to expand our current collection of YouTube uploads Observatory (AAO). in 2011 was the award of the 2011 Nobel Prize participated in public discussion panels (Melbourne and to also include scientifi c simulations and a video in Physics to Brian Schmidt, Adam Riess and Saul With Education & Outreach Coordinator Dr Wiebke Writers Festival, 3-4 September 2011, Brisbane dictionary for astronomy. Perlmutter. Not only has this award changed Schmidt's Ebeling attending two major conferences on science Writers Festival, 7-11 September; Adelaide Festival life forever, it has also sent ripples of curiosity, We are completing the collection of Theme profi les communication and public outreach in early 2012, of Ideas, 9 October) and with radio broadcasters, excitement and ambition through the entire Australian and Theme Leader profi les, building on our completed CAASTRO will experience an important surge in the including interviews with ABC Local (30 August public and created valuable opportunities for CAASTRO segments on Brian Schmidt and ‘The Dark Universe’. publicity of our outreach strategy and our national 2011), ABC Radio National (13 October 2011), and researchers to communicate the signifi cance of ‘Dark These profi les offer insight into the personal paths of and international connectivity. In particular on the Radio New Zealand (21 October 2011). our top researchers, give a thorough overview of each national level, these networking efforts will be directed Energy’. Some of these communications came from research theme and associated research facilities, and towards defi ning outreach opportunities in each of Associated with the offi cial launch of CAASTRO on Chief Investigators Jeremy Mould (COSMOS magazine, provide young people with valuable career advice. For the four Australian capital cities that host CAASTRO 12 September 2011, Gaensler had the opportunity to 6 October) and Warrick Couch (Swinburne Media ease of discovery and access, these video clips are nodes. These new ideas will be evaluated alongside promote our mission through the University of Sydney Centre, 7 December), as well as Associate Investigator sorted into playlists and can also be saved to disk and feedback received during the node outreach discussion media offi ce (press releases on 9 and 13 September), an Tamara Davis (The Conversation, 10 October; ABC provided to schools and other interested parties. session at our 2011 retreat. These opportunities will online article in The Conversation (12 September) and Radio National, 29 October 2011). be aimed at providing a healthy counter-balance to our a live interview on ABC News 24 (13 September). By Additional video material will come through the social media strategy and at delivering a small number publishing video material that was collected during the continued use of “video press releases”, where of high impact programs to specifi c target groups in launch festivities, we have also reached out to the broader possible, for new publications. This proved to be metropolitan and regional Australia. For example, we audience of YouTube users in Australia and the world. extraordinarily well received for our main news story of are currently collaborating with Musica Viva Australia 2011, on the “Diamond Planet”. In August 2011, we congratulated CAASTRO's to provide speakers nationally for pre-concert talks for Evolving Universe theme leader Stuart Wyithe for his Thanks to Dr Greg Madsen at The University of Tafelmusik’s 2012 Galileo Project tour. fi rst major award of the year – a prestigious Australian Sydney, our new video-conferencing system will be On 31 March 2012, CAASTRO will be participating in Laureate Fellowship Wyithe's award and associated used extensively in the upcoming “CAASTRO in the “Astrofest” in Perth with an information stall to which achievements were the subject of a feature article in Classroom” seminars. For 2012, Dr Madsen is looking the public is invited to meet our Western Australian The Australian on 10 August 2011. We were further to fi ll fi ve seminar slots per school term with CAASTRO researchers. We are planning on organising a similar elated when in October when Wyithe received the speakers. For the fi rst two school terms, the seminars event, probably on a bi-annual basis, to take place on 2011 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist will be aimed at students in years 7-10 for which the the Australian East coast – starting in 2013. To this of the Year. This award was covered heavily in all astronomy content is covered by two topics in the end, we are also investigating opportunities to attract Australian media. New South Wales syllabus: “Newtonian Model of the additional external funding for the CAASTRO Education Solar System” and “Components of the Universe”. The & Outreach program to further boost our potential to schedule for early 2012 includes researchers from all inspire and train the next generation of scientists. 52 CAASTRO 53 ANNUAL REPORT 2010/11

Media Case Study CAASTRO DIAMOND PLANET LOCATIONS The paper “Transformation of a Star into a Planet in a Millisecond Pulsar Binary” by Matthew Bailes et al. in Science on 26 August 2011 brought with it the fi rst and hugely successful CAASTRO Science Media Release. The template was jointly prepared by the Swinburne University Media & Communications Unit, CSIRO and the CAASTRO Education & Outreach Coordinator. The two locally tweaked releases that were published were titled “A planet made of diamond” (Swinburne & CAASTRO) and “The Dish fi nds a Diamond Planet” (CSIRO). Media Monitors reported that within the fi rst fi ve days, the story was picked up by: . 12 Australian print media . 8 international print media . 22 Australian broadcasters . 1 international broadcaster . 8 wires/agencies . 112 Australian online sources . 220 international online sources. The Australian Science Media Centre ranked the “Diamond Planet” the Australian #1 top science story in 2011. A substantial aspect of this success story was the supporting ‘video press release’ that Matthew Bailes from CAASTRO produced and developed. The video was made available on a Swinburne University server, and within the fi rst 24 hours of its release, it was downloaded over 500,000 times! Even months after its publication, the “Diamond Planet” remains a regular reference in the digital media, especially private websites and blogs.

Photo: Jayne Ion 54 CAASTRO 55 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

CAASTRO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY CAASTRO University of Sydney team members

The Sydney node of CAASTRO is housed within the 2011 saw an explosive growth of activity at Sydney . An innovative new approach to identifi cation and Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA), which is part in all these topics – we started with three Chief parameterisation of 21cm hydrogen absorption Professor Bryan Gaensler of the School of Physics within The University of Investigators (Bryan Gaensler, Elaine Sadler and Scott produced by distant galaxies that occur in the line CAASTRO Director Sydney. SIfA has had a long heritage of astronomical Croom) and one Associate Investigator (Tara Murphy), of sight towards strong radio continuum sources. Themes: Dynamic, Evolving instrumentation and sky surveys, and currently but by year’s end, the Sydney CAASTRO team had We have developed a method for simultaneously In 2011, Gaensler worked on algorithms for polarisation pursues a vigorous program of hardware and software grown to more than 20 members, including 8 postdocs fi nding and fi tting 21cm absorption lines in radio calibration of Epoch of Reionisation data, and on development. This expertise has provided a key and 3 PhD students. data by using “multi-nested sampling”, a Bayesian techniques for identifying and characterising transient foundation for our contributions to CAASTRO. Monte Carlo algorithm. We have tested the method Amongst our research highlights for the year were: sources in radio data. In 2012, he plans to begin on a simulated ASKAP data cube, and have shown Within the Evolving Universe theme, Sydney is involved applying his polarisation algorithms to real data, and to . A collaboration with CAASTRO theorists at the this approach to be reliable at detecting absorption in three main areas: pursue early science on transients and variables with University of Melbourne, in which we showed that lines in low signal-to-noise data without the need the MWA. . An enormous new survey of star formation and rotation measure synthesis can be used to recover to smooth or alter the data. By estimating the local galaxy evolution over the local volume on the Anglo- the signature of cosmic hydrogen reionisation in the Bayesian evidence statistic, our work provides a Professor Elaine Sadler Australian Telescope, using the new multi-object presence of contamination by polarised foregrounds quantitative criterion for assigning signifi cance to integral fi eld spectrograph technology that Sydney (see pp10-11). We applied the rotation measure a detection and for selecting between competing CAASTRO Chief Investigator and AAO have together developed (Bryant, Croom). synthesis technique to the Stokes I component of a analytical line-profi le models. Theme: Evolving . Precision calibration of low-frequency radio synthetic data cube containing Galactic foreground The Sydney team were also very active in outreach In 2011, Sadler has been working with CAASTRO data as required for detection of the Epoch of emission, instrumental polarisation leakage and and education activities throughout 2011 – audiences Associate James Allison and PhD student Sarah Reeves Reionisation, with a particular focus on polarisation redshifted 21-cm emission by neutral hydrogen for our public lectures and talks ranged from primary to develop new techniques for identifying and studying measurements and foreground removal using the from the Epoch of Reionisation. This produced school children all the way through to TEDxSydney. We 21cm HI absorption lines in wide-band radio data. In Murchison Widefi eld Array (MWA) (Gaensler). an effective Stokes I Faraday dispersion function also spent much of 2011 developing “CAASTRO in the 2012 they will be using these techniques to analyse for each line of sight, from which instrumental . Wide-fi eld surveys of 21cm hydrogen absorption Classroom”, a video-conferencing initiative that we will data from the Australia Telescope Compact Array polarization leakage was able to be fi tted and as a means of probing gas in galaxies over a much roll out to high schools across NSW in 2012. And to (ATCA) in preparation for the forthcoming ASKAP subtracted. Our results show that it is possible wider range of cosmic times than has previously cap it off, the CAASTRO Director Bryan Gaensler had FLASH survey, a blind all-sky HI absorption-line survey to recover the signature of reionisation in its late been possible. This will culminate in the “First Large an especially busy year, with the publication of his fi rst at redshift 0 < z < 1. stages by way of the 21-cm power spectrum, as Absorption Survey in HI” (FLASH), to be undertaken book, “Extreme Cosmos”, with associated appearances well as through tomographic imaging of ionised using ASKAP (Allison, Curran, Reeves, Sadler). at the Brisbane and Melbourne Writers’ Festivals. Associate Professor Scott Croom cavities in the intergalactic medium. Sydney is also making major contributions to the We were especially proud to have hosted CAASTRO’s CAASTRO Chief Investigator . Development of a new technique for stacking Dynamic Universe theme: fi rst completed PhD! Keith Bannister, co-supervised Theme: Evolving radio interferometry visibilities to form a deep by Bryan Gaensler, Tara Murphy and Tim Cornwell . Fast new algorithms for reliably fi nding variable and composite image, which we then applied it to Croom is leading the CAASTRO project on (CSIRO), completed a very fi ne thesis on “Radio transient sources in wide-fi eld radio maps, robustly observations of transient phenomena. We applied spatially resolved optical spectroscopy using new Surveys: Transients & Techniques”, and subsequently measuring their properties and then classifying them “visibility stacking” to 46 archival Very Large instrumentation technology developed at the University took up a prestigious Bolton Fellowship at CSIRO into pre-defi ned categories, all in near real-time. This Array observations of nearby type Ia supernovae. of Sydney and Australian Astronomical Observatory Astronomy & Space Science. Keith will continue his also serves as the basis of a data pipeline for the This new approach has provided an upper limit (AAO). 2011 was a spectacular success, with the association with CAASTRO as an affi liate member. forthcoming Variable and Slow Transients (VAST) on the type Ia ensemble peak radio luminosity commissioning of the Sydney-AAO Multi-object Integral survey on ASKAP (Bannister, Banyer, Bell, Gaensler, which is 5-10 times lower than any previous As the headquarters for CAASTRO, Sydney University fi eld spectrograph (SAMI) on the Anglo-Australian Hancock, Murphy, Lo). measurement. Our measurements allow the double quickly built up a diligent and effi cient administrative Telescope. In 2012 he will be focusing on carrying out the fi rst survey observations with this instrument, . Automated analysis of large archival radio, optical degenerate scenario for type Ia supernovae, but unit, consisting of Kate Gunn (Chief Operating Offi cer), rule out intermediate- and high-mass companions Debra Gooley (fi nance), Joanne Daniels (executive which will provide a new view on the physical and X-ray data sets, to identify new, rare, classes of processes that govern galaxy formation and evolution. transient sources (Bannister, Bell, Farrell, Gaensler, in the single degenerate scenario. In the era of support) and Susan Parker (events & communications). Lo, Madsen, Murphy). time domain astronomy, techniques such as The team at “mission control” organised the spectacular visibility stacking will be important in extracting the CAASTRO launch at Sydney Observatory in September Professor Anne Green . New surveys for radio variability at low frequencies, maximum amount of information from observations 2011, quickly followed up by a very successful CAASTRO Affi liate using the unique wide-fi eld capabilities of the MWA of populations of short-lived events. CAASTRO Retreat in Bungendore in November 2011. Themes: Dynamic, Evolving and of the SKA Molonglo Prototype (SKAMP) Work is already underway for the 2012 CAASTRO (Banyer, Bell, Campbell-Wilson, Gaensler, Green, Green continues with the development of the Retreat, as well as organisation of scientifi c workshops Murphy, Thakkar) SKAMP project and expects to begin commissioning hosted by CAASTRO for 2012 and 2013. in 2012. In a project to understand massive star formation and to eventually produce a model to feed 56 CAASTRO 57 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

into galaxy evolution simulations, a study of the help commission and perform transient searches with Carina Nebula is being undertaken with the Australia Dr James Allison ASKAP BETA and WMA. He has also been developing Ms Kitty Lo Telescope Compact Array in 2012. CAASTRO Affi liate SKAMP software including the ingest pipeline and CAASTRO postgraduate student Theme: Evolving control system, and assisted with exhaustive testing of Theme: Dynamic Dr Julia Bryant the SKAMP correlator’s X engine. Allison is a member of the ASKAP First Large Lo’s PhD project is on radio transients which fi ts into CAASTRO Research Fellow Absorption Survey in HI (FLASH) - a survey science CAASTRO's Dynamic Universe research theme. She is Theme: Evolving Mr Duncan Campbell-Wilson project that will be used to probe the distribution and working on automatic classifi cation algorithms for the CAASTRO Affi liate Bryant is working on a galaxy survey using the new evolution of neutral Hydrogen to high redshifts. In 2011 Variable and Slow Transients (VAST) survey on ASKAP. Theme: Dynamic SAMI instrument on the AAT, having been part Allison developed a technique for line fi nding in FLASH of the instrument team that developed, built and data and conducted observations of HI absorption with As the Manager of the Molonglo Radio Observatory, Ms Sarah Reeves commissioned SAMI. Bryant will be a core part of the the Australia Telescope Compact Array. Plans for 2012 Campbell-Wilson has been involved with radio CAASTRO postgraduate student SAMI galaxy survey and use the spatially-resolved include continued preparation for the ASKAP-FLASH astronomy /astrophysics, engineering (electronic, Theme: Evolving spectra of a thousand galaxies to disentangle the roles project using existing facilities and archival HI data. electrical and mechanical), radio telescope construction of the environment, AGN processes and star bursts in and development for over 25 years. In 2011, the site In 2011 Reeves' focus was on obtaining new radio the evolution of galaxies. Dr Sean Farrell and staff hosted the CAASTRO Annual Retreat, as well observations of nearby galaxies. These observations will improve our understanding of galaxies in our CAASTRO Affi liate as providing advice on the detection of transient radio local universe, as well as forming a crucial part of Dr Steve Curran Theme: Dynamic sources. Campbell-Wilson will be enabling the operation preparation for the First Large Absorption Survey in HI CAASTRO Research Fellow of SKAMP 2 in 2012, and providing data to CAASTRO Farrell’s specialisation is X-ray astronomy, focussing (FLASH), which aims to study galaxy evolution in the Theme: Evolving for various data analysis projects. on the study of accreting compact objects (i.e. black distant universe. In 2012 Sarah will continue analysis Curran is preparing for the First Large Absorption holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs), in particular Mr Darshan Thakkar of these observations and begin work on constructing Survey in HI, to be undertaken with the Australian the search for intermediate mass black holes. As the FLASH target database. CAASTRO Professional Staff SKA Pathfi nder, in the search for the cool, star-forming a CAASTRO affi liate, he will be providing support Theme: Dynamic material in the early Universe. In 2011, in conjunction through his expertise in X-ray astronomy to various Ms Kate Gunn with Matt Whiting at CASS, he found that placing a CAASTRO activities. As a digital engineer, Thakar is involved in the design CAASTRO Chief Operating Offi cer powerful quasar in a galaxy of gas will ionise all of the and implementation of the real-time processing system neutral material. In 2012 he hopes to further develop Dr Martin Bell for the Square Kilometre Array Molonglo Prototype Gunn is the Chief Operating Offi cer of CAASTRO. A start-up specialist with a wealth of business and his hypothesis that the optical properties of the galaxies CAASTRO Postdoctoral Researcher (SKAMP). SKAMP will be used at CAASTRO to carry University experience, Kate has been well placed to absorbing radiation from more distant quasars can be Theme: Dynamic out all-sky surveys for radio variability as well as used to convert the 21-cm absorption strength into a conduct experiments on RFI mitigation. establish the necessary foundations for CAASTRO total hydrogen column density. Since joining CAASTRO, Bell has been working with to grow and achieve its goals. Kate has 25 years of data from the Murchison Wide Field Array (MWA). In Dr Tara Murphy management experience, and has a background in the 2012 he hopes to publish some of this work, and to commercialisation of University intellectual property. Dr Greg Madsen CAASTRO Associate Investigator continue exploring the dynamic radio sky with wide CAASTRO Senior Research Fellow Theme: Dynamic fi eld instruments. Ms Debra Gooley Theme: Dynamic Murphy’s focus is on radio observations of supernovae CAASTRO Finance Offi cer Madsen’s focus in 2011 was development of the SKA Dr Paul Hancock and Gamma-ray bursts, and intelligent algorithms for Gooley is responsible for the coordination and Molonglo Pathfi nder (SKAMP) as a tool for discovering CAASTRO Affi liate detecting transient events in large volumes of data that management of ARC Centre of Excellence KPI and radio transients. In 2012, he will be exploring large Themes: Dynamic, Evolving will be produced by next-generation radio telescopes. historical archives of optical surveys to fi nd large In 2012, Murphy plans to conduct extensive radio fi nancial reporting, and other associated reports for amplitude optical variables and transients. Madsen Hancock has developed a process called visibility follow-up of extreme GRB events, carry out several CAASTRO to support the achievement of the Centre’s has actively contributed to CAASTRO’s education and stacking that allows the use of multiple radio new surveys for transients, and get the fi rst results goals and objectives. outreach activities, and has led the establishment of the observations to more accurately characterise a from the MWA 32T observations which will provide ‘CAASTRO in the Classroom’ program. population of sources. He has demonstrated this one of the best low frequency blind surveys for Ms Jo Daniels technique on observations of Type Ia supernovae and transients conducted so far. CAASTRO Executive Assistant Dr Elizabeth Mahony will be applying the same technique to observations of gamma ray burst afterglows. He has also developed Daniels provides executive assistance to the CAASTRO CAASTRO Research Fellow Keith Bannister a new algorithm called Aegean for identifying radio Director and other CAASTRO staff. Theme: Evolving CAASTRO Affi liate (CAASTRO postgraduate) sources and is currently expanding its functionality. Theme: Dynamic Mahony worked on a short-term CAASTRO project, Ms Susan Parker “The optical spectra and redshift distribution of AT20G Mr Jay Banyer Bannister’s research focuses on the search for CAASTRO Events and Communications Offi cer radio sources", which was co-sponsored by CSIRO. CAASTRO Professional Staff astronomical radio transients, using new techniques Parker has a passion for organising events and enjoys The aim of this short project was to analyse new Theme: Dynamic and upcoming surveys. He is currently following up communicating with a range of stakeholders. In 2011 optical spectra (mainly from the 8m Gemini telescope) a range of candidate transients from the Molonglo As a software engineer, Banyer has been developing Parker very successfully organised the CAASTRO of southern radio sources from the Australia Telescope telescope and will be helping with ASKAP science Launch and the fi rst CAASTRO Annual Retreat. (AT20G) survey. the VAST transient pipeline prototype. With commissioning this year. further enhancements this software will be used to 58 CAASTRO 59 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

CAASTRO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA (UWA) CAASTRO UWA team members

The UWA node of CAASTRO is collocated with the . Successful mid-term reviews of the Wallaby and International Centre of Radio Astronomy Research Dingo projects were conducted, with substantial the global Tully-Fisher relation is underway with PhD Ms Morag Scrimgeour (ICRAR) at the Ken and Julie Michael Building on progress being made by team members in student Jacinta Delhaize. CAASTRO Postgraduate Student Fairway in Perth. Node activities are spread across the many areas, including automated velocity-fi eld Theme: Dark dynamic, evolving and dark themes although emphasis parameterisation and source-fi nding. Associate Professor Chris Power Scrimgeour enrolled at UWA in 2010 to work on will shift to the latter two themes as ASKAP swings into One of the strengths of CAASTRO, much appreciated CAASTRO Associate Investigator dark matter and cosmology. She is supervised action. Node leader Lister Staveley-Smith and Associate by UWA node members, is the mix of observational, Themes: Evolving and Dark Investigator Martin Meyer lead or co-lead two of by Lister Staveley-Smith, Peter Quinn (UWA) and theoretical and computational research that CAASTRO Power is an expert in dark matter and galaxy formation ASKAP’s major HI galaxy surveys, Wallaby and Dingo, Tamara Davis at the University of Queensland, but brings to the research table. Collaborative activity with who has been using a combination of analytical and work alongside CAASTRO researchers at other also works with other CAASTRO investigators Brian other CAASTRO nodes, and with ICRAR researchers, modelling and supercomputer simulations to study nodes and researchers at a large number of Australian Schmidt and Chris Blake. Her work in 2011 included is extremely good. CAASTRO researchers at the UWA problems ranging from the growth of super-massive and overseas institutions. The goals of Wallaby and a new study of the homogeneity of the Universe node have regular coffee meetings to discuss progress black holes in galaxies to the structure of dark matter Dingo, and other science being undertaken at the node, using WiggleZ redshift data. and events, and have Perth-area meetings with haloes. Chris was the co-organiser of the highly- are to understand the evolution of galaxies and to probe researchers from the Curtin node every few months. successful Wallaby simfest which preceded the the distribution of matter in the Universe using world- Mr Tao Hong CAASTRO retreat and worked with other Wallaby class radio, optical and computational facilities. Research goals for the next year at the UWA node CAASTRO Postgraduate Student include: and Dingo investigators during the year to develop a Theme: Dark Lister and Martin are “foundation” members of simulation roadmap. CAASTRO at the UWA node. However, they were . Development of the Survey Simulations Pipeline Hong is enrolled at the National Astronomical soon joined by Associate Investigator Chris Power, (SSimPl), which will provide the framework Dr Se-Heon Oh Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In an for creating synthetic galaxy surveys for next postdoctoral scientist Se-Heon Oh, programmer Shin CAASTRO Postdoctoral Researcher agreement between NAOC and UWA, he spends 50% generation telescopes such as ASKAP and the SKA. Kee Chung, and administrative offi cer Katie Lau. Theme: Evolving of his time in Australia to work on the 2MASS Tully- CAASTRO researchers at UWA are currently spending . Initial template verifi cation and distance Fisher project (2MTF) as a CAASTRO student. His considerable time developing new algorithms, techniques measurements for the 2MTF survey. Oh commenced in May 2011 from his previous supervisors are Lister Staveley-Smith and JinLin Han, position at UCT. He made an immediate impact in and simulations in preparation for the upcoming surveys. Wallaby and SkyMapper peculiar velocity and he also works closely with researchers at the AAO, . the area of velocity fi eld characterisation in galaxies, Recent technical advances have included: simulations. CSIRO and Monash University. which is one of the more challenging areas in dealing . Improved spectrometers using power-effi cient . Deployment of GPU spectrometer. with ASKAP HI data. He continued his work on the advanced graphics processors. . Development of a kinematic pipeline for Wallaby and dynamics of galaxies. . High-resolution dark matter and semi-analytic Dingo. simulations of the Wallaby and Dingo volumes. Mr Shin Kee Chung Professor Lister Staveley-Smith . Development of algorithms to decompose noisy, CAASTRO Postdoctoral Researcher multi-component velocity fi elds in spatially CAASTRO Deputy Director Theme: Dynamic resolved galaxies. Themes: Evolving and Dark Chung is a software engineer who commenced in April Other highlights have been: Staveley-Smith has been working with Wallaby co-PI 2011 to work on GPU spectrometers. He spent his Baerbel Koribalski and other co-investigators in their . An innovative study of the homogeneity of the time developing a general CPU/GPU FFT and polyphase preparations for this ASKAP survey. He has also Universe using WiggleZ data. This study gives fi lterbank, and has also spent time working with the been working on various pre-ASKAP surveys such as an accurate upper scale for the presence of BIGHORNS project led by Randall Wayth in the Evolving the re-vamped 2MTF survey, and worked with the inhomogeneities in the Universe, and has allowed Universe theme. MWA project scientist to develop a tile confi guration verifi cation of the predictions of the standard strategy for MWA. lambda cold dark matter model of the Universe. Ms Katie Lau CAASTRO Administrator . Analysis of all available Parkes data taken as part Associate Professor Martin Meyer of the new CAASTRO 2MASS Tully-Fisher (2MTF) CAASTRO Associate Investigator Lau uses her extensive professional experience in project to measure cosmic fl ows in the local Themes: Evolving University administration to provide administrative Universe. The 2MTF survey will make the most support at the UWA node. She looks after the UWA accurate measurements of the cosmic fl ow fi eld Meyer’s leadership role in the DINGO survey has seen node fi nancials and reports back to the CAASTRO in the nearby Universe prior to the forthcoming him contribute to new projects to stack HI data at COO. She works alongside the ICRAR/UWA Wallaby/SkyMapper surveys. moderate redshifts with existing telescopes such as administration team. Parkes. A new study of the cosmic HI density and 60 CAASTRO 61 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

CAASTRO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE CAASTRO University of Melbourne team members

The University of Melbourne node of CAASTRO is Ly selected galaxy redshift surveys to constrain corresponding to the parameter `luminosity density’. numerical model for inhomogenous reionization, to housed within the School of Physics. The Astrophysics cosmology using information from the full power A galaxy’s position along this vector was being establish new constraints on the redshift at which group at Melbourne was founded less than 20 spectrum. (Wyithe) closely tied to its merger history, such that early-type hydrogen reionization completed. The near-zone years ago, but has a track-record of excellence in . Surveys of Ly-alpha emitters indicate that tens of galaxies with lower luminosity density are more likely temperature measurements constrain the redshift observational and theoretical cosmology, areas which sources should be visible within an observing fi eld, to have undergone major mergers. This conclusion by which hydrogen reionization was complete to provide the basis for our contributions to CAASTRO. whereas in the vicinity of bright quasars none are is reinforced by an examination of simulations, be z > 7.9. This implies that future temperature which show clear trends of merger history with this measurements around other high redshift quasars University of Melbourne researchers are primarily observed. The observed difference indicates that luminosity density. (Magoulas, Webster) will signifi cantly increase the power of this engaged within the Evolving Universe theme of which the quasar environment has a signifi cant infl uence technique, enabling these results to be tightened Professor Stuart Wyithe is lead, with an emphasis on on the observed density of Ly-alpha emitters. To . In 2011 we successfully installed and tested the and generalised. (Bolton, Wyithe) Epoch of Reionisation science: quantify this effect we have constructed a semi- MWA Real-Time System (RTS) on the real-time analytic model to simulate the effect of a luminous computer nodes that are temporarily housed at During 2011 members of the Melbourne node developed . A wide fi eld survey of neutral hydrogen in the high quasar on nearby Ly-alpha emitters. We fi nd the ICRAR, where it is being used to process data from an innovative program “Telescopes in Schools” that has redshift Universe with the Murchison Widefi eld null detection implies that the minimum virial mass the 32-tile prototype array. The RTS is a wide-fi eld purchased ten 12-inch (30-cm) telescopes with a range Array (MWA) of which the University of Melbourne of the Ly-alpha emitter host halos is 100 billion calibration and imaging pipeline that will run on-site of accessories to be loaned to underprivileged schools was a founding partner (Wyithe, Webster, Mitchell, solar masses. This indicates that the intense UV at the Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory. across Melbourne. This project will train science teachers Pindor, Riding). emission of the quasar may be suppressing the star More recently, the parallel RTS development effort in each school on the use of the equipment and support . Numerical simulation of the evolution of early formation in nearby galaxies. Our study illustrates used to process data from the prototype array has will be provided on a range of suitable learning objectives galaxies and their interaction with the high that low redshift quasar environments may serve as been incorporated back into the master code base, for students in Years 7-9. We also contributed strongly redshift intergalactic gas (Wyithe, Tescari, Bolton, a surrogate for studying the radiative suppression of with the merged software soon to be made available in more traditional outreach and education activities Kim, Bruns). galaxy formation during the epoch of reionization. as the fi rst offi cial RTS release. The software is throughout 2011 – from public lectures through to our . Studies of the properties of elliptical galaxies from (Bruns, Wyithe) regularly used to image data from site, both long work experience program. integrations and wide surveys, and has been used to the 6df redshift survey (Magoulas). . High-redshift measurements of the baryonic The team at Melbourne is very ably assisted in their make the fi rst detection of polarization from a radio The University of Melbourne is also making acoustic oscillation (BAO) scale from large Ly work by administrative offi cer Kim Dorrell who has very galaxy with the MWA. (Mitchel, Webster, Pindor) contributions to the Dark Universe theme: forest surveys represent the next frontier of effi ciently managed node affairs including organization dark energy studies. We constructed a model for . During 2011 we have initiated a new state- of events including the MWA collaboration meeting. . The use of Ly-alpha in absorption and emission to producing fast, large-volume simulations of the of-the-art program performing cosmological study Baryonic acoustic oscillations at high redshift Ly forest for this purpose. Utilizing a calibrated hydrodynamical simulations with which to better using the next generation of widefi eld spectroscopic semi-analytic approach, we developed a method to understand the interplay between galaxies and Professor Stuart Wyithe surveys (Wyithe, Bolton, Greig). 3 run very large simulations in 1 Gpc volumes which intergalactic medium (IGM) from redshift z ~ 2 CAASTRO Chief Investigator, Evolving Universe Theme 2011 saw a rapid ramp up of activity at Melbourne in all fully resolve the Jeans scale in less than a day to the epoch of reionization at z = 6 and above. Leader these areas – the CAASTRO team now numbers more on a desktop PC using a graphics processing unit In the next few years, deep and wide imaging Themes: Evolving, Dark than 12, including 4 postdocs and 3 PhD students. enabled version of our code (see p17). The Ly campaigns with facilities such as SkyMapper forest spectra extracted from our semi-analytical will discover distant galaxies and quasars. At the In 2011, Wyithe worked on studies of the effect that Amongst our research highlights for the year were: simulations are in excellent agreement with those same time, spectroscopic studies of bright, high fl uctuations in transmission of Ly-alpha from through . We showed that the dependence of Ly absorption obtained from a fully hydrodynamical reference redshift quasars with optical and near-IR facilities the intergalactic medium would have on studies of on environment leads to signifi cant non-gravitational simulation. We applied our model to simulations will probe the intergalactic gas which these early clustering. In 2012, he plans to work on incorporating features in the redshift space power spectrum of the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, galaxies form from and subsequently interact simulations into this clustering work. of Ly selected galaxies (see p16). As a result, and also used our simulations to provide simple with. Detailed models of this complex, non-linear power-spectrum measurements could be used power-law expressions for estimating the fractional interaction are vital for interpreting forthcoming Professor Rachel Webster as a new probe to study the astrophysics of the error on the BAO scale on varying the signal-to- data and guiding future observational programs. Our CAASTRO Chief Investigator galaxy-intergalactic medium (IGM) connection, noise ratio and the number density of background theoretical program will be used to understand the Theme: Evolving sources. (Greig, Bolton, Wyithe) latest observations in collaboration with CAASTRO and to measure the properties of outfl ows from During 2011 Webster concentrated her efforts towards member Emma Ryan Webber at Swinburne. star-forming galaxies. Applying the modifi ed . Using the 6dF galaxy redshift survey, we found preparations for the MWA via studies of foreground  (Tescari, Bolton, Kim, Wyithe) redshift space power spectrum to a Ly survey that stellar population trends not just with velocity populations at the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope with parameters corresponding to the planned dispersion and fundamental plane residual, but with . We presented the most up-to-date thermal (GMRT). Over the next year she plans to work with Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment radius and surface brightness as well. The most constraints on the reionization of hydrogen by the MWA team on preparations for the MWA Epoch of (HETDEX), our study found that the dependence remarkable fi nding is that the stellar population stellar sources. We used recent measurements of Reionisation experiment. of observed Ly fl ux on velocity gradient and parameters vary through and across the plane, but the IGM temperature in the near-zones of seven ionizing background may compromise the ability of show no variation at all along the plane, roughly quasars at z ~ 5.8-6.4, combined with a semi- 62 CAASTRO 63 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Dr Jamie Bolton Ms Christina Magoulas CAASTRO Associate Investigator CASTRO PhD student CAASTRO AT SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Themes: Evolving, Dark Theme: Evolving During 2011 Bolton worked with PhD student Brad In 2011 Magoulas has been working on the properties Greig on developing simulations to calculate the of elliptical galaxies and the fundamental plane using effect of absorption on the clustering of Ly-alpha the 6dF galaxy redshift survey. In 2012 Magoulas will The Swinburne CAASTRO node is located at the Extending the scope of the cosmological measurements sources. In 2012, Bolton will contribute to the focus on completion of her PhD thesis. Hawthorn campus within the Centre for Astrophysics obtained from the WiggleZ Survey dataset, in particular development of CAASTRO’s high redshift super- and Supercomputing (CAS). CAS is one of the biggest by combining with other datasets. computing simulation program. Mrs Jennifer Riding astronomy research centres in Australia. It also operates Modelling how forthcoming peculiar velocity surveys CAASTRO PhD student a signifi cant supercomputing facility (including a new will place new constraints on the understanding of dark Dr Edoardo Tescari Theme: Evolving state-of-the-art GPU-based machine, gSTAR), a Virtual matter and dark energy. CAASTRO Fellow Reality Theatre, and concentrates on problems in During 2011 Riding began her PhD in low-frequency Theme: Evolving astrophysics that benefi t from these unique resources. Undertaking the optical and radio measurements for the radio astronomy, and has concentrated on analysing major peculiar velocity survey that will carried out with After arriving towards the end of 2011 Tescari has challenging data from the Giant Metrewave Radio Swinburne researchers are primarily engaged in the SkyMapper and ASKAP in the south, and Pan-STARRS already initiated a program of simulation to study the Telescope. During 2012, Riding will help to develop “Dark Universe” and “Dynamic Universe” theme areas and the Westerbork Synthesis Telescope in the north. relation between metals in the intergalactic medium and test the RTS, in particular the calibration system, of CAASTRO, with Prof Matthew Bailes being the and high redshift galaxies, which was awarded 600 be involved in other MWA science commissioning theme leader for the latter. The key areas of activity in Amongst out research highlights for the year were: thousand hours of cpu time at NCI. During 2012 activities, and assist with the planning and acquisition each area are as follows: . Publication of important pathfi nder work for the Tescari will lead the running of an analysis of this of the initial EoR dataset. peculiar velocity surveys planned with SkyMapper simulation program. The Dynamic Universe theme and ASKAP, including signifi cant improvements to Dr Han-Seek Kim Development of new radio frequency interference (RFI) the Tully-Fisher method for determining distances, Dr Daniel Mitchell CAASTRO Affi liate mitigation techniques for pulsar and transient surveys and modelling of systematic effects in the galaxy CAASTRO Senior Research Fellow Theme: Evolving that use the Parkes 64m radio dish. samples that will be used. Theme: Evolving During 2011 Kim developed a new code that . The discovery of a “diamond planet” – a very low- Development of a new transient detection pipeline During 2011 Mitchell led the Real Time System incorporates semi-numerical study of reionisation mass companion to a millisecond pulsar – which for Parkes that will run in real time, by exploiting the (RTS) development effort. He spent most of his time structure into the semi-analytic code Galform using the attracted huge media coverage world-wide. (See computational power and energy effi ciency of graphics incorporating features of the two RTS code branches Millennium simulation, and used this to study the effect pp13 & 52) processing units (GPUs). into a single RTS release, analysing data from the of supernova feedback on the 21cm power spectrum . Publication of a paper describing the digital signal prototype array in preparation for the upcoming MWA from reionisation. In 2012, Kim will extend this work to Development of a transient detection pipeline that will processing software developed by van Straten and commissioning activities, and testing the RTS on the incorporate the Millennium-II simulation. function in a commensal mode with other observing Bailes. This software is the primary analysis tool real-time compute cluster. In 2012 Mitchell will lead programs at the Giant Meter Wave Radio Telescope employed in sophisticated pulsar instrumentation RTS commissioning activities and further develop the Dr Bart Pindor (GMRT) in India. at the Parkes radio telescope and other premiere software for use in post processing and deep EoR CAASTRO Affi liate During 2011, sizeable research groups were assembled observatories around the world. It implements an imaging. Theme: Evolving in these two areas, built around Chief Investigators advanced radio frequency interference mitigation algorithm based on spectral kurtosis, which is an During 2011 Pindor has been working on porting Couch and Mould, and Associate Investigator Blake in Mr Brad Greig important part of our research and development on the RTS ionospheric correction algorithms to run the Dark Universe area, and Chief Investigator Bailes CAASTRO PhD student instrumentation for real-time fast transient detection. on GPUs as well as preparing to run the RTS and in the Dynamic Universe area. Three postdocs (Kazin, Theme: Dark MAPS simulator on the gSTAR facility. In the coming Koda and Lagattuta) were employed for the former, . Publication of the fi rst results of the High Time During 2011 Greig published a paper with a novel year, Pindor will also be working on creating and and two postdocs (Bhat and Kocz) plus a software Resolution Universe Transient Survey. Initial approach to calculating the clustering signal in the Ly- commissioning the interface between the RTS and the engineer (Jameson) were employed for the latter. A processing of a small fraction of the survey has alpha forest with application to dark energy surveys. MWA Monitor & Control system whose development total of 4 PhD students plus an outstanding visiting produced 11 discoveries, all of which are sparsely In 2012 his focus will shift to calculation of how is being led by the University of Washington, as well Honours student from New Zealand (who will return to emitting neutron stars. The completion of the intergalactic absorption effects the clustering of Ly- as continuing to develop and validate the ionospheric do his PhD at Swinburne on CAASTRO science) also survey analysis is predicted to double the known alpha emitting galaxies. correction package. worked across the two theme areas. A new CAASTRO population of rotating radio transients. administrator (Mansfi eld) was also recruited. . Two very successful WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey Mr Loren Bruns Ms Kim Dorrell meetings were held – one a workshop to progress CAASTRO PhD student CAASTRO Executive Offi cer The Dark Universe theme the cosmology science, held on the Gold Coast, and the other being a meeting of the full team at Theme: Evolving Realising signifi cant improvements in the WiggleZ Dark Dorrell brings a broad range of research-oriented Swinburne to review the science outcomes of the Energy Survey measurements of the baryon acoustic In 2011 Bruns published his paper describing the effect administrative experience to The University of Melbourne project and plan future research activities. that a quasar has on the observed properties of nearby node from prior roles at the Centre for Eye Research oscillation (BAO) peak through a process called Ly-alpha selected galaxies. In 2012 Bruns will focus on Australia, the Australian Twin Registry, the Centre “density-fi eld reconstruction”, which removes some of completion of his PhD thesis. for MEGA Epidemiology, and CSIRO’s division of the effects of the non-linear growth of structure. Mathematical and Information Sciences. 64 CAASTRO 65 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

CAASTRO Swinburne University of Technology Team members

Professor Matthew Bailes Dr. Emma Ryan-Weber Dr. Ramesh Bhat Dr Jun Koda CAASTRO Chief Investigator and Dynamic Universe CAASTRO Associate Investigator CAASTRO Postdoctoral Researcher CAASTRO Postdoctoral Researcher Theme Leader Theme: Evolving Theme: Dynamic Theme: Dark Theme: Dynamic Ryan-Weber works in the Evolving Universe theme Bhat works in the area of observational pulsar astronomy Koda’s expertise is in modelling how forthcoming In 2011, Bailes and his pulsar survey team discovered area, with strong collaborative links to Wyithe and his and the transient radio universe. In 2011, his research peculiar velocity surveys will place new constraints a very low-mass companion to a millisecond pulsar team at the University of Melbourne. In 2011, she focus included binary-pulsar tests of the theories of on models of dark matter and dark energy. Despite that was dubbed the “Diamond Planet” by the spent a large fraction of the year on maternity leave. gravity, investigation of transient phenomena such as the large efforts being put into such observational world’s media. In 2012, he will participate in the RFI Upon her return, she resumed her research on mapping giant radio pulses and the use of pulsar measurements programs, there is still a lot of theoretical uncertainty mitigation and transient detection pipeline activities for the distribution of galaxies around metal absorbers to probe the ISM. He also contributed to the technical about what aspect of the cosmological model they will Parkes and GMRT. close to the epoch of reionisation. In 2012 (and and science demonstration experiments related to high best constrain. Koda’s forecasts will provide a toolbox beyond) she plans to follow-up of newly discovered time resolution astronomy in the SKA-era. In 2012, he for the analysis of the eventual dataset, and in some Professor Warrick Couch high redshift quasars from SkyMapper to investigate will continue these activities, as well as take part in cases will greatly assist survey design. CAASTRO Chief Investigator the intergalactic medium. developing new capabilities for the GMRT in the areas of Theme: Dark pulsars and transients. Dr David Lagattuta Dr. Willem van Straten CAASTRO Postdoctoral Researcher In 2011, Couch played a major management role in CAASTRO Affi liate Dr Jonathon Kocz Theme: Dark the WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey and oversaw the Theme: Dynamic CAASTRO Postdoctoral Researcher recruitment of new CAASTRO-funded personnel in the Lagattuta is highly experienced with optical imaging Theme: Dynamic Dark Universe area. He will continue to play this role van Straten is an expert in high-precision pulsar timing, (with applications in gravitational lensing and galaxy and be involved in the WiggleZ science being pursued and has developed state-of-the-art instrumentation and In 2011, Kocz worked on the the development of formation/evolution) and has responsibility for the at Swinburne. high-performance data analysis software for the world’s new instrumentation for pulsar observations, and optical photometry measurements from SkyMapper premiere radio observatories. In 2011, he was involved the development and application of radio frequency that will be required for the SkyMapper/ASKAP peculiar Professor Jeremy Mould in the High Time Resolution Universe and Parkes interference excision algorithms to pulsar data. He will velocity survey. CAASTRO Chief Investigator Pulsar Timing Array projects, both based at the Parkes continue to work on these projects in 2012 until his Theme: Dark Observatory in New South Wales. He also contributed departure in April, when he will take up a new position Mr Andrew Jameson to the planning and design of pulsar instrumentation at Harvard. CAASTRO Software Engineer Mould is leading the optical and radio observational for the Square Kilometre Array Pathfi nders in Theme: Dynamic programs that will be undertaken for a major peculiar Australia (ASKAP) and South Africa (MeerKAT) Dr Eyal Kazin velocity survey of the local universe in order to map Jameson brings skills in software development, systems and to the development and support of pulsar data CAASTRO Postdoctoral Researcher the underlying dark matter and constrain cosmological administration, high performance computing and analysis software for the low frequency arrays in The Theme: Dark models. He undertook important preparation activities for Netherlands (LOFAR) and Australia (MWA). He will scientifi c visualisation. In CAASTRO, he will work closely this survey in 2011, and will continue these in 2012. continue these activities in 2012. Kazin’s research focus is signifi cantly improving the with Swinburne’s Pulsar Astronomy group developing WiggleZ survey measurements of the baryon acoustic hardware and software instrumentation systems for use A/Prof Chris Blake Professor Karl Glazebrook oscillation (BAO) peak through a process called at the Parkes Radio Telescope. His contributions will be “density-fi eld reconstruction”, which removes some of in the areas of data acquisition, real-time processing, CAASTRO Associate Investigator CAASTRO Affi liate the effects of the non-linear growth of structure. The interference excision and data archival. Theme: Dark Themes: Dark, Evolving improvements from applying this analysis technique are Blake led much of the WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey Glazebrook has, for the last two years, been leading potentially equivalent to acquiring another 200 nights Ms Carly Mansfi eld science in 2011, fi rst-authoring the land-mark an effort to develop a large scientifi c collaboration of telescope data! Kazin is also involved in the Baryon CAASTRO Administrator cosmology papers that were published. In 2012, he between Australian astronomers and the U.S. focused Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), which is will continue to further progress the completion and Dark Energy Survey (DES). This involves wide-fi eld extending the WiggleZ Survey results to larger volumes. Carly Mansfi eld joined the CAASTRO Swinburne node publication of key scientifi c results from the WiggleZ imaging of 4000 deg2 of the southern sky in 5 fi lters, in September 2011, having previously worked in Survey, as well as supervise CAASTRO postdocs Kazin and has a wide-fi eld spectroscopy capability (AAT). academic administration, including three years working and Koda, who are working in the Dark Universe area. This activity naturally falls within CAASTRO’s projects at the Centre for Adult Education in Melbourne, and and is very valuable and synergistic with ASKAP/MWA/ two years working for the Institute of Biomedical GAMA. The activity to commence an OZDES wide-fi eld Engineering (IBME) at Oxford University (UK) assisting SNe survey for dark energy has already started with the administration and IT teams. time on the AAT for a pilot. Glazebrook is also pursuing deep galaxy evolution survey work which naturally complements CAASTRO’s wide-fi eld surveys. 66 CAASTRO 67 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

CAASTRO AT THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (ANU) CAASTRO ANU Team members

At the Australian National University, the CAASTRO of precision, a requirement of its precise supernova with emphasis on the characterisation and suppression Ms Sharon Rapoport node is headquartered in the library wing of the heritage survey. The development of a supernova subtraction of the effects of radio frequency interference. CAASTRO Student listed Commonwealth Solar Observatory building at pipeline was started in mid-2011 and will be completed Theme: Evolving the hub of the Mount Stromlo Observatory. Since the by mid-2012. This will enable regular discoveries and Dr Stuart Sim Rapoport joined CAASTRO’s ANU team as a PhD disastrous bush fi res of January 2003, the ANU has operations of supernovae to take place. CAASTRO Associate Investigator student in 2011. She is working on studying the undertaken instrumentation projects relevant to the Radio astronomers at ANU have been key contributors Theme: Dynamic expected angle-dependent synthetic spectra from jet- three main themes of CAASTRO in the observatory’s to the development of the Murchison Widefi eld Sim’s research focuses on the theory of supernova driven models (using Sim’s 3D radiative transfer code) to new Advanced Instrumentation and Technology facility. Array (MWA), whose goal is the development of explosions. In 2011, he worked on developing new better understand the observational expectations from a These projects include the SkyMapper Telescope instrumentation and analysis tools for observing the models for faint thermonuclear explosions of low-mass gamma-ray burst, which is associated with a supernova. and its widefi eld camera at the ANU’s Siding Spring Epoch of Reionisation, a period more than 13 billion white dwarf stars. These models will help interpret In the next year Rapoport plans to create our own hydro Observatory and radio astronomy receivers for the years ago when the fi rst stars ignited as the fi rst galaxies observations taken as part of the next generation of models and explore the model’s parameters space to Murchison Widefi eld Array (MWA). formed. Based on the technologies tested with the 32 astrophysical transient surveys, such as will be carried allow easier identifi cation of newly observed GRB-SN, The ANU is the prime driver of CAASTRO’s Dark Antenna Tile prototype work, the MWA will expand and out with the SkyMapper telescope. In 2012 he plans to and use observational constraints to locate the possible Universe theme through the leadership of the Dark enter routine operation in the course of 2012. work on radiative transfer simulations for white dwarf parameters plane for such explosions. Energy discoverer, Nobel Prize winner Professor mergers, with particular focus on late-phases (e.g. Brian Schmidt. Schmidt’s ground breaking research Prof Brian Schmidt around 1 year post-explosion). Accurate modelling of Mr Jonghwan Rhee relied on surveys to discover and characterise distant CAASTRO Chief Investigator, Dark Universe Theme late-time spectra is one of the most promising means CAASTRO Student supernovae, which are among the most energetic of Leader to observationally distinguish explosion models for Theme: Evolving events in the cosmos and which are prime examples of Themes: Evolving, Dynamic, Dark thermonuclear supernovae. Rhee joined the CAASTRO ANU team as a PhD student the types of dynamic/transient events at the core of the Schmidt continued to lead work on SkyMapper, in 2011. He is working on atomic neutral hydrogen (HI) Dynamic Universe theme. These are important targets including commissioning activities and software Dr Philip Lah gas evolution in fi eld galaxies over cosmic time, using for the wide-fi eld surveys and all-sky monitoring to be development. This work will fi nish in early 2012, CAASTRO Affi liate 21-cm HI emission line stacking techniques. In 2011 conducted with Skymapper. and will be followed by regular operations and the Theme: Evolving he carried out and began analysing radio observations The MWA radio telescope will be an important beginning of both the Southern Sky Survey, and the Lah holds a joint post-doctoral appointment that allows with the GMRT and optical spectroscopic observations contributor to the science of both the Dynamic and SkyMapper Supernova Survey. Schmidt was awarded him to split his time between the Research School with the Anglo-Australian and Multi-Mirror Telescopes. Evolving Universe themes, as it has an exceptionally the 2011 Nobel Prize in physics, and in association of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the ANU where In 2012, he plans to complete his analysis of these data wide fi eld of view of the heavens, making it effi cient at with this award made innumerable media appearances he is a CAASTRO member and the National Centre and publish the results. fi nding and following transient events. The wide fi eld both in Australia, and internationally. Schmidt will be for Radio Astrophysics in Pune, India. Lah’s recent nature of the design also increases the effi ciency of the highlighting his and CAASTRO’s work on Dark Energy research following on from his PhD at ANU has focused Mr Benjamin McKinley MWA (and future telescopes that build on the MWA’s with more than 20 planned lectures in 2012. on measuring the neutral gas content of galaxies as CAASTRO PhD Student design) at building a statistically signifi cant picture of a function of time through observations of the 21cm Theme: Evolving Prof Frank Briggs the evolution of the fi rst structures (stars and galaxies) line from galaxy populations over a range of redshifts. McKinley began his PhD in 2011 and has been in the early Universe. CAASTRO Chief Investigator His research interests include multi-wavelength focussed on studying radio galaxies with the Murchison Themes: Evolving, Dynamic extragalactic astronomy; optical spectroscopy; radio The SkyMapper Telescope moved closer to regular Widefi eld Array (MWA). In 2012 Mr McKinley hopes Briggs’ research interests have focused on the use astronomy in the 21cm line; data analysis techniques; to be part of the science commissioning of this exiting operations, with an unexpected problem that required and data mining in large databases. disassembling of the Imaging Camera in Canberra, fi xed of the radio 21cm line of neutral hydrogen to follow new instrument, which will probe the Universe at low the history of galaxy formation and evolution. Atomic radio frequencies. His focus will be on uncovering over the last 3 months of the year. During 2011, the Dr Fang Yuan telescope was shown to have achieved its performance hydrogen is the most primitive and most common of new information about the structure and evolution goals with respect to optical image quality, scattered the elements, and the primordial clouds of hydrogen CAASTRO Research Staff of Centaurus A, the closest radio galaxy to us in the light performance, connectivity, CCD read out time, and gas are the substance from which the visible Theme: Dynamic Universe, and helping to develop techniques to process automated scheduling. The telescope has a resonance components of the structure of the Universe (the Yuan is responsible for the development of the and analyse data from the MWA. on its secondary mirror, which remains an outstanding stars and galaxies) form. Briggs spent much of 2011 SkyMapper transient search pipeline. By the end of issue, along with 4 (out of 64) noisy channels in the participating in the testing and commissioning of this 2011, a prototype pipeline was in place. She also Mrs Denise Sturgess array. These issues should be addressed in the fi rst part next phase of the MWA project. He is also engaged in started a project to investigate the nature of peculiar CAASTRO Administrator an ongoing collaboration with Indian astronomers at of 2012 so that regular operations can be commenced. calcium-rich sub-luminous supernovae through studies Sturgess is the CAASTRO Node Administrator at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics in Pune to of their explosion sites. In 2012, Dr Yuan will help to A team at LPNHE in France led by CAASTRO partner use the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) to the Australian National University. Sturgess is an maintain and refi ne the transient search pipeline on experience administrator, having worked for a number investigator Reynald Pain, has nearly completed a measure the evolution of the gas content of galaxies real-time SkyMapper observations. She will also assist precision calibration instrument, “SkyDice”, which over the last 7 billion years and the relation of the gas of years in the business community, including the with the classifi cation and follow-up of SkyMapper Canberra Business Council. will be commissioned on SkyMapper in mid-2012. to star forming properties of galaxy populations. In transients. Her main science interests are the calcium- This instrument will enable the Skymapper telescope 2012, he will continue his research on radio techniques, rich events and super-luminous supernovae, including and imager to be calibrated to an unprecedented level the probable pair-instability explosions. 68 CAASTRO 69 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

CAASTRO AT CURTIN UNIVERSITY CAASTRO Curtin University Team members

Astrophysics research at Curtin University is a relatively provide administrative support to the Curtin CAASTRO aperture arrays deployed as part of the low-frequency a series of papers that describe new ways to extract new enterprise. Home of CAASTRO at Curtin University team and to visitors from interstate and overseas. component of the SKA. Dr Trott is also working on transient signals from large datasets. This is a new and is the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (CIRA) that detection of slow transients in the UV domain, an innovative way to think about our data, which will be CAASTRO members at Curtin University are involved in was established in 2007. CIRA is led by two foundation approach which promises to extract transient signals required for the larger and larger datasets we collect. the following science projects: Professors, Steven Tingay (Physics) and Peter Hall at a sensitivity just above the thermal noise of a radio (Engineering). Curtin’s investment in establishing CIRA array. This approach possesses an enormous advantage Professor Steven Tingay is motivated by Australia’s involvement in the Square The Evolving Universe when the area of sky being searched is extremely CAASTRO Chief Investigator, Kilometre Array (SKA) project and the possibility that crowded (e.g. regions of intense interest such as Education & Outreach Theme Leader the SKA could be located in Western Australia. The EoR Global Signal experiment aims to detect the that at the Galactic centre).(Tingay, Macquart, Trott, Themes: Evolving Universe, Dynamic faint signal from neutral hydrogen that is present over Tremblay; cross-node collaboration with Kitty Lo, The purpose of a multi-disciplinary institute is to fuel In 2011 as a member of the CAASTRO Executive, the entire sky from the period in the early Universe call University of Sydney). innovative approaches to radio astronomy by working Tingay put a lot of time into developing the CAASTRO the Epoch of Reionisation. The signal can, in principle, at the nexus of science and engineering, and by Dr Tremblay’s involvement in both research themes is science programs, establishing the Centre and the be detected by a single, very well calibrated radio tackling challenging research problems on the path to the development of techniques, utilising both hardware Curtin University node, as well as going through the antenna and receiver working in the 50-250MHz range the SKA. Curtin University is also the lead institution and software, to mitigate the effects of terrestrial process of hiring the fi rst set of CAASTRO employees of the radio spectrum. The detection of this signal in the $50 million Murchison Widefi eld Array project, frequency interference to better enable detection of the at Curtin. He is now looking forward to working on the will be the next major advance in cosmology. It is a an SKA precursor telescope being constructed by an inherently weak signals being searched for. science and education aspects of CAASTRO after the challenging experiment because the signal to measure international consortium at Australia’s candidate SKA establishment phase. On the science front, he has been is many times fainter than other naturally occurring Highlights and achievements of the Curtin University site in the Murchison region of Western Australia. The working on the Evolving Universe theme project to build radio signals from our Galaxy. The project is engaging node in 2011 include organising and hosting the fi rst MWA, the main instrument that will enable CAASTRO a sensitive radio telescope to detect the signals arising with industry partner Poseidon Scientifi c Instruments to CAASTRO Advisory Committee face-to-face meeting Epoch of Reionisation (EoR) research, has entered into from the fi rst stars and galaxies in the Universe, from design a high precision analogue receiver system using in early August 2011 and the Executive meeting in the fi nal stage of construction, and will be complete in the so-called Epoch of Reionisation (EoR). a CSIRO designed digital backend. This system will be a mid September 2011. Major progress has been made November 2012 and ready for science in early 2013. mobile, self-contained observatory. The year 2012 will by the administrative team in 2011 in compiling and Dr Jean-Pierre Macquart CAASTRO sits alongside, interacting closely with, and see “fi rst light” for the system with data collection fi eld returning required information, such as fi nancial and CAASTRO Associate Investigator complements activities of the International Centre for trips scheduled for the second half of the year. (Tingay, non-fi nancial Key Performance Indicators, in a fast and Theme: Dynamic Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), an equal joint Wayth, Sokolowski, Mossammaparast, Tremblay) effective manner. venture between Curtin University and The University Throughout 2011, Macquart investigated optimal ways With the Curtin node in charge of CAASTRO's of Western Australia, in which Professor Tingay acts of detecting transients with next generation radio Education & Outreach strategy, CAASTRO’s 2011 as Deputy Director. The Curtin CAASTRO team is led The Dynamic Universe arrays, such as ASKAP, the MWA and the SKA. The press releases, public talks, University Open Day by Professor Tingay, CAASTRO Chief Investigator and aim of the work was to relate the rate of detected Curtin CAASTRO members are heavily involved in participation, video productions and media interactions CAASTRO Executive member with carriage of Education transients to the underlying physical luminosity designing smart algorithms for sifting through data at were coordinated across the six nodes through Curtin. & Outreach to bring CAASTRO’s scientifi c output to distribution and distance distribution of a putative the enormous (>20 Terabit per second) rates expected CAASTRO's social media presence aims to take all-sky the public, using astronomy to advance the public’s population of transients. The work folds in the effects from next-generation widefi eld radio telescopes in order astronomy to the world via YouTube, Facebook and awareness of science and the scientifi c process. of interstellar scattering, which can moderate the to detect and localise transient objects. New algorithms other portals. This has been very successful thus far Signal-to-Noise of any impulsive transients, especially In the fi rst year of CAASTRO, four new hires are vital because current brute-force methods of and promises to give CAASTRO wide reach over the at low transients. More broadly, he has also been were made to support CAASTRO programs. Two searching for short timescale (<1 second) transients life of the CAASTRO programs. considering means to optimise the real-time detection postdoctoral research staff started in 2011: Dr requires us to correct for the effects of interstellar and 2011 CAASTRO research at the Curtin node was of fast transients using interferometers, in a manner Cathryn Trott (Dynamic Universe theme), Dr Steven intergalactic dispersion which can balloon the data rate successfully published or submitted for publication which allows one to search the entire primary beam Tremblay (Dynamic Universe theme). The third initial out by a further factor of hundreds. If the entire fi eld of in peer-reviewed journals and was also the topic of fi eld of view of the telescope across a range of hire was the CAASTRO Education and Outreach view of the telescope is to be searched for transients at numerous presentations at in-house colloquia, the dispersion measures, but localises the transient with a Coordinator, Dr Wiebke Ebeling. the full array sensitivity, this can cause a further factor CAASTRO Annual Retreat, data analysis workshops, synthesised beamwidth. of 103 – 106 explosion in the data rate. Dr Jean-Pierre Macquart (Dynamic Universe theme) the ATNF Science Day, and international conferences and Dr Randall Wayth (Evolving Universe theme) Dr Trott and Dr Macquart are designing and testing new (e.g. IAU Symposium 285). The Curtin team is Dr Randall Wayth are CAASTRO Associate Investigators, and Mr algorithms that circumvent much of the computational particularly proud of Dr Cathryn Trott’s cross- CAASTRO Associate Investigator Mehran Mossammaparast (Evolving Universe theme) effort required to de-disperse and localise fast radio disciplinary work with geologists for the analysis Theme: Evolving is a postgraduate student (MSc). Ms Tanya Jones transients. They are collaborating with members of the of opal growth rates and her and her co-authors’s Wayth is the Project Manager of the CAASTRO- (administrative coordinator) and Ms Tina Sallis (fi nance) LOFAR transients key project to test out their ideas paper, describing a very novel approach to radio supported EoR Global Signal project (codename on telescopes whose design may closely resemble the astronomy data processing, which will be the fi rst in "Bighorns") that was launched in 2011. The project 70 CAASTRO 71 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

has made good progress towards developing a highly the new website. She has taken on the responsibility of sensitive calibrated radiometer and data processing communicating CAASTRO related and relevant science system for the Global Signal experiment, with news, events, and award announcements to a rapidly CAASTRO PARTNERS CAASTRO MSC student Mehran Mossammaparast growing Australian and international audience. She has playing a major role in the work. The Bighorns system also been coordinating public outreach, professional CAASTRO’s Partner Organisations in 2011 and will be deployed in fi eld trials and on several data development, mentoring, and school engagement corresponding Partner Investigators were: collection fi eld trips to remote Western Australia where activities across the six CAASTRO nodes. In 2012, the the sky is free of man-made interference. CAASTRO Education & Outreach program will unfurl its full breadth of activities with a balance between Dr Steven Tremblay social media and targeted local programs. Dr Ebeling will CAASTRO Postdoctoral Fellow further spread the public awareness of CAASTRO on Theme: Dynamic a national and international scale by presenting at two major conferences in early 2012. Commonwealth Scientifi c and Industrial Research Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Germany Having started in September, most of Tremblay’s 2011 Organisation (CSIRO) Professor Michael Kramer activities involved getting acquainted with CAASTRO Mr Mehran Mossammaparast Assoc Prof Brian Boyle projects and people. In 2012, he will implement a fast Dr Robert Braun CAASTRO Postgraduate Student (MSc) transient data collection mode within the MWA and Professor Ray Norris Theme: Evolving progress the EoR Global Signal experiment to the point where radio frequency interference can be removed Since the second half of 2011, Mossammaparast has from the data. He also plans on continuing to work with been involved in designing and testing the analogue data from the Long Wavelength Array which he helped components for the EoR Global Signal (Bighorns) getting operational as part of his PhD. receiver in the laboratory. Work will be continuing Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO) University of Arizona,USA on the fi rst prototype testing of the completed front- Professor Matthew Colless Professor Xiaohui Fan end and gain modules. This will then be followed by Dr Cathryn Trott Associate Professor Andrew Hopkins CAASTRO Postdoctoral Fellow integrating the receiver gain module, data acquisition Theme: Dynamic unit, and master controller unit into a portable rack cabinet. The prototype antenna, the receiver front-end In 2011, Trott worked on a framework for a visibility- module, and the rack back-end will then complete the based source detector and detection performance for signal path for the initial fi eld deployment. a novel fast transients detector/de-dispersion system. University of Toronto, Canada Associate Professor Ue-Li Pen She also investigated fundamental source estimation Ms Tanya Jones limits with next-generation radio interferometers Administrative Coordinator Max-Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Germany and application to limits on estimation of the 21cm Professor Guinevere Kauffmann EoR signal. In cross-disciplinary research with Curtin Since April 2011, Jones has responsibility of providing University geologists, she provided the mathematical administrative support and leadership to all CAASTRO analysis for modelling the growth of opal samples team members and to newly commencing staff at (geochronology). Her plans for 2012 are to defi ne Curtin University. A further aspect of her role is practical algorithms and apply techniques to real the reporting of the non-fi nancial CAASTRO Key Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes datasets (MWA 128T and ASKAP commissioning data), Performance Indicators for the Curtin team. In 2012, Energies, France as well as to extend visibility-based source detection she will continue to assist CAASTRO members at the Dr Reynald Pain to include fl ags for variable sources, with a view to Curtin node, as well as interstate and international California Institute of Technology, USA producing a slow transient pipeline, independent of visitors and coordinate the administrative work of Professor Shri Kulkarni the traditional image-based pipelines. She will explore CAASTRO, ICRAR, and CIRA. techniques for classifying slow transients, with particular attention to the cadence and frequency of Ms Tina Sallis blind radio surveys and the effect on two-dimensional CAASTRO Finance Offi cer power spectra in the 21cm EoR signal. Collaborations University of Oxford, UK with geologists are ongoing for dating of Apollo lunar In 2011, Sallis had the responsibility of providing Professor Steve Rawlings breccia samples. fi nancial support and advice to the CAASTRO team Raman Research Institute, India members based at Curtin University. There has also Professor Ravi Subrahmanyan Dr Wiebke Ebeling been the responsibility of producing the fi nancial data for reconciliation against the CAASTRO Budget. In CAASTRO Education & Outreach Coordinator 2012, the fi nancial support and fi nancial administration Since July 2011, Ebeling has been successfully tracking will continue with emphasis on providing the CAASTRO CAASTRO’s coverage in the media and using this Curtin node staff with valid fi nancial information to Durham University, UK information to maintain our social media channels and ensure that they can carry out their research activities. Professor Carlos Frenk UNITE 72 CAASTRO 73 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Professor Ray Norris in the use of all-sky surveys to discover rare objects, Professor Norris is Chief Research Scientist within especially valuable for the SkyMapper survey’s search CSIRO Astronomy & Space Science and Project Leader for high redshift quasars. Fan will also play a lead role for EMU (Evolutionary Map of the Universe), one of in the multi-wavelength followup of the high redshift the two key projects (the other being WALLABY) that quasars and their environments through the considerable were selected to drive the design and construction of resources available through the Steward Observatory ASKAP. EMU is an all-sky continuum survey that lies which he is able to direct towards CAASTRO science. within CAASTRO’s Evolving Universe theme, with its Durham University, UK primary goal being to trace the origin and evolution of galaxies over cosmic time. EMU will also have a major Professor Carlos Frenk SCIENTIFIC LINKAGES impact on characterising Dark Energy and Modifi ed Professor Frenk’s contributions to CAASTRO are Gravity, aligning it with the “Dark Universe” theme. under the themes of the Evolving and Dark Universes. Over the coming decade, CAASTRO will observe the The University of Queensland moderate redshift neutral hydrogen Universe for the Dr Tamara Davis fi rst time via the ASKAP FLASH, WALLABY and DINGO Australian Astronomical Observatory investment. Hopkins’ primary research activities within Dr Davis is an Associate Investigator with CAASTRO, surveys. For this reason it is important to take stock of Professor Matthew Colless CAASTRO fall under the Evolving Universe theme, what theoretical galaxy formation models tell us about although there are several overlapping aspects of his and her expertise is in the interpretation of cosmological As Director of the Australian Astronomical Observatory, observations in terms of their implications for the abundance and distribution of HI in the Universe. work with activities that CAASTRO will pursue under Frenk, as the head of the Institute for Computational Professor Colless has a signifi cant role in supporting the the Dark Universe theme. Within CAASTRO, Hopkins fundamental physics. In particular she focuses on operations and management of CAASTRO because the determining the nature of Dark Energy and Dark Matter, Cosmology and joint lead investigator on the Millennium is primarily pursuing research on the EMU and the simulation (the largest simulation of the Universe ever AAO is providing some of the Centre’s key facilities, proposed TAIPAN projects. and the validity of the “Lambda-Cold Dark Matter” through the wide-fi eld optical spectroscopic capabilities paradigm, using supernovae and large scale structure. undertaken), is in a unique position to contribute the theoretical galaxy formation models that will be needed of the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) and of the Dr Chris Lidman Davis is part of the Dark Universe theme, under which to exploit CAASTRO’s scientifi c observations. UK Schmidt Telescope (UKST). He led the 6dF Galaxy Dr Lidman is an Associate Investigator in CAASTRO, she focuses on the theoretical interpretation of the Survey that used the UKST to map the density and and his role is in the Dark Universe Theme, where he velocity fi eld and density fi eld measurements made Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, velocity fi elds in the local Universe by measuring will contribute to the follow-up of Type Ia supernovae by SkyMapper, ASKAP and the Anglo-Australian Germany Fundamental Plane distances and peculiar velocities for discovered by SkyMapper. His expertise is in Telescope. She contributes the theoretical background 10,000 nearby galaxies, and he brings this expertise observational cosmology, Type Ia supernova, galaxy necessary to perform the velocity fi eld measurements, Professor Michael Kramer to the WALLABY survey team, which will test the clusters, primordial galaxies, and exotic transient and will adapt the theoretical predictions to the specifi c Professor Kramer’s research activities are under the current cosmological paradigm that the distributions of phenomena. Lidman is an expert in adaptive optics, observational parameters of the surveys performed Dynamic Universe theme of CAASTRO. His focus is dark and luminous matter are the same on the largest near-IR imaging and optical spectroscopy. In addition, within CAASTRO. on the exploration and exploitation of the dynamic scales. To do this he will combine the WALLABY all-sky Lidman has commissioned several instruments at two radio sky, both in the study of pulsars as well as new neutral hydrogen survey using ASKAP with an all-sky major international observatories. California Institute of Technology, USA types of transients, allowing CAASTRO to address a optical survey using SkyMapper. Colless is engaged in Professor Shri Kulkarni wide range of astrophysical questions, ranging from the comparison of the radio and optical surveys and Commonwealth Scientifi c and Industrial the state of matter at extreme densities, to cosmology Professor Kulkarni’s focus within CAASTRO is in the analysis of the velocity fi eld and its implications for Research Organisation and tests of theories of gravity. The enabling process the Dynamic Universe theme. He has long-standing cosmological models. The CAASTRO research program of this exciting science starts with the search for fast Dr Brian Boyle collaborative links with Professors Matthew Bailes brings together the WALLABY and FLASH ASKAP transients. Kramer is contributing his expertise to this Dr Boyle is CSIRO’s SKA Director. His primary research and Brian Schmidt, as exemplifi ed by a history of surveys with the 6dF and the proposed TAIPAN UKST area by developing hardware and software solutions in interests are in the fi elds of quasars, active galaxies and ARC Discovery and (formerly Large) grants in the surveys. As a member of all four survey teams, Colless collaboration with the CAASTRO partners. plans to study the co-evolution of gas and stars out cosmology, and he is currently involved in the Australia areas of software correlation and instrumentation to a redshift z ~0.25 using the ASKAP radio surveys Telescope Large Area Survey (ATLAS). The CSIRO is development applicable to the Square Kilometre Max-Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Germany a world leader in science and engineering associated Array, and gamma-ray bursts. Kulkarni is one of to measure the neutral hydrogen gas component of Professor Guinevere Kauffmann galaxies and the UKST optical spectroscopy to measure with radio astronomy, and is leading Australian efforts the originators of the Palomar Transient Factory Professor Kauffmann’s main research activities within the stellar component. on the Square Kilometre Array. The CSIRO offers (PTF), a northern-hemisphere complement to the outstanding computational services, several of the Skymapper project. Using these facilities in concert, the CAASTRO are under the theme of the Evolving Universe. Associate Professor Andrew Hopkins world’s most powerful radio telescopes, and a world- CAASTRO team can monitor the entire sky for optical She brings to CAASTRO expertise on the analysis and Associate Professor Hopkins is coordinating the class engineering team. transients, and can share algorithmic and software interpretation of the physical properties of galaxies, with development. Finally Swinburne and Caltech have particular emphasis on their gaseous components. contributions of the Australian Astronomical Dr Robert Braun Observatory to CAASTRO, together with AAO Director already signed a Memorandum of Understanding of She is currently leading two programs to characterise Dr Braun is Chief Scientist for CSIRO Astronomy Professor Matthew Colless. scientifi c collaboration that spans the early years of atomic and molecular gas in a sample of approximately and Space Science. Braun’s scientifi c contributions CAASTRO and provides access to the Keck telescopes 1000 nearby galaxies. As a precursor to surveys such Hopkins manages and coordinates CAASTRO- to CAASTRO will be under the Evolving Universe for Swinburne astronomers. This MoU has triggered as WALLABY that will be supported by CAASTRO, the supported student and postdoctoral researchers research theme, through his participation in the a number of new collaborative projects involving knowledge gained in executing Kauffmann’s programs who observe with and utilise data from the Anglo- WALLABY and FLASH surveys using ASKAP. For scientists from these two institutions. is extremely valuable for the CAASTRO team. Australian Telescope and the UK Schmidt Telescope. WALLABY, Braun’s area of focus will be to examine He facilitates AAO support astronomer interactions varying galaxy populations in different environments, University of Arizona, USA with CAASTRO personnel, coordinating pipeline data Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes which he will use to test galaxy evolution theories. Professor Xiaohui Fan Energies (LPNHE), France processing for observations with AAO facilities, and FLASH will undertake an untargeted all-sky survey managing access to computing resources. Hopkins of HI absorption at intermediate redshifts (z = 0.5 Professor Fan’s primary involvement in CAASTRO Dr Reynald Pain is responsible for identifying programs using AAO – 1). Braun’s specifi c interest is to measure the science is within the Evolving Universe theme. In Dr Pain is contributing to CAASTRO’s Dark Universe facilities that complement and add value to CAASTRO dependence with redshift of the neutral gas density of particular Fan will be active in the use of quasars to theme within CAASTRO. Pain is the Director of LPNHE, projects. By leveraging the existing effort on such the Universe, and to discriminate between models of probe the evolution of the high-redshift intergalactic a large physics research grouping that works in a broad projects, new scientifi c goals from CAASTRO projects galaxy assembly in this redshift range. medium. He is renowned for his expertise in the range of high-energy and particle physics experiments. will be enabled, increasing the return from the existing discovery of high-redshift quasars, and more generally As French lead investigator of the Supernova Legacy 74 CAASTRO 75 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Survey (SNLS) project, Pain is one of the leaders of EBootes collaboration using type Ia supernovae to measure the acceleration of Institutions: Monash University, Jet Propulsion CAASTRO commenced operations on 1 April 2011, and these Key Performance Indicators represent our the universe. As part of CAASTRO, Pain and his team Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, activities for the last 9 months of the year. The CAASTRO website was launched at the time of the launch at LPNHE will actively participate in the SkyMapper National Radio Astronomy Observatory, National of the Centre on 12 September 2011, so the number of website hits refl ects a 4 month period only. supernova survey, taking leading roles in the calibration Optical Astronomy Observatory, Ohio State University, and precision photometric analysis of the supernova Swinburne University of Technology, University of data. Pain is also overseeing an independent transient Leiden, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon pipeline constructed for SkyMapper that will work in tandem with an Australian-based pipeline. These This collaboration is working on evolution of radio two independent pipelines are required to achieve galaxies. The survey fi eld is the Bootes fi eld whose KPI DASHBOARD the precision required from the next generation of optical coverage is the NOAO Deep Wide Field. Deeper radio data will be obtained in 2012 with the EVLA. supernova surveys. 2011 Key Performance Indicators University of Toronto, Canada KDUST collaboration 2011 target Achieved in 2011 Associate Professor Ue-Li Pen Institutions: University of Chicago, Texas A&M Papers in Refereed Journals Associate Professor Pen brings to CAASTRO a wealth University, University of California at Berkeley, University of New South Wales, Swinburne University of experience in tackling fundamental problems in Papers in A* & A ranked journals cosmology associated with many of the Centre’s of Technology, National Institute of AstrOptics (China), science themes. He has considerable experience Jet Propulsion Laboratory Invited talks/papers at major internaonal meengs in studies of the Epoch of Reionisation and of This collaboration is working on the next generation 2 Arcles about achievements extragalactic hydrogen, and has worked in this area micron sky survey. The telescope is the Kunlun Dark Media releases about achievements with fellow CAASTRO investigators. Within CAASTRO, Universe Survey Telescope planned for construction Pen’s research activities are primarily under the theme and operation at Dome A in Antarctica. A Phase A Professional training courses aended by staff and P/Gs of the Evolving Universe. His specifi c focus is to study was carried out at the AAO under the auspices of Staff aending professional training courses quantify the errors in the power spectra of neutral the PILOT (Pathfi nder for an International Large Optical hydrogen in galaxies, as measured by ASKAP surveys Telescope) project. New Postgraduate students such as WALLABY & DINGO. WiggleZ New Post-doctorates recruited Raman Research Institute, India Institutions: Swinburne University of Technology, New Honours students Professor Ravi Subrahmanyan University of Toronto (Canada), Australian Astronomical P/G compleons Professor Subrahmanyan’s focus within CAASTRO Observatory, University of Sydney, University of is the Evolving Universe theme. His background is in Copenhagen (Denmark), University of Queensland, ECRs working on core Centre research developing methods and instrumentation for all-sky California Institute of Technology (United States), Students mentored measurements of the radio background – in particular University of Waterloo (Canada), University of Chicago detecting reionisation signatures in the cosmic radio (United States), Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics Mentoring programs background. Subrahmanyan and his colleagues at the (Taiwan), CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences, Internaonal visitors and vising fellows Raman Research Institute are contributing primarily to Observatories of the Carnegie Institute of Washington the Murchison Widefi eld Array’s efforts to detect the (United States), Monash University, Clayton, VIC Naonal and internaonal workshops held by CAASTRO Epoch of Reionisation. 3800, Australia ), AU(Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology, Visits to overseas labs & facilies University of British Columbia (Canada) Government, industry and business community briefings CAASTRO COLLABORATIONS The collaboration has used the WiggleZ survey data Public awareness programs taken with the Anglo-Australian Telescope to make CAASTRO staff have been involved in a number of new measurements of how the clumpy Universe on Number of Newleers additional collaborations with institutions both in small scales transitions to a homogeneous Universe Website hits ('000s) Australia and internationally during the course of 2011, on large scales, which is a test of the cosmological including the following. model. They also used the detection of the baryon Public talks given by Centre staff acoustic peak in the WiggleZ survey data as a standard Other research income, Public Sector ($676,000) The 6dFGS Peculiar Velocity Field cosmological ruler to make new measurements of Institutions: Australian Astronomical Observatory, the distance-redshift relation in the distant Universe New organisaons collaborang with, or involved with Centre University of Melbourne, Swinburne University of and produce new evidence in favour of cosmological- Theorecal papers wrien on analysis of CAASTRO-based surveys Technology, University College London (United constant dark energy. Kingdom), Monash University, Durham University Reseach outputs focused on new algorithms and techniques (United Kingdom), University of Western Kentucky Large Synoptic Survey Telescope CPU core-hours for research acvies (Millions) (United States), Spitzer Science Center (California Institutions: The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Institute of Technology, United States) (comprising more than 30 member organisations) HPC users/projects amongst members This collaboration has carried out a trial run of the and CAASTRO. P/Gs co-supervised between nodes or internaonally within CAASTRO CAASTRO and The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope CAASTRO dark matter program using 6dF Redshift Research outputs featuring co-authorship between nodes % Survey data instead of ASKAP data. Preliminary results (LSST) have entered into negotiations on how will be presented in early 2012. We have derived a Australian astronomers can contribute to the CPU core-hours compevely awarded (Millions) operational support of LSST which is planned to begin value of the cosmological bias parameter. We also Compeve research facilies used (Telescopes) compute a dipole in the velocity fi eld after correction full scientifi c operations in the 2020 timeframe. for the velocities due to galaxies. Minutes of scienfic animaon/short video material 156 mins

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 76 CAASTRO 77 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2011 INCOME BY SOURCE 2011 EXPENDITURE Other** Research materials/Experiments ARC LIEF PhD Support DIISR International Science CAASTRO FINANCIAL REPORT JANUARY - DECEMBER 2011 Equipment Linkages (ISL) Program Operations & Maintenance 2011 INCOME 2012 ESTIMATED INCOME NSW Government Science Leveraging Fund (SLF) Marketing & Outreach ARC Income NSW Government Science Travel, Accommodation Carry Forward $- Carry Forward (ARC & Node Contributions) $2,293,910 Salaries Leveraging Fund (SLF) and Conference ARC Income $3,000,000 Carry Forward (Other income) $636,642 Node Contributions* ARC Indexation ARC Indexation $47,431 ARC Income $2,800,000

Node Contributions $912,272 ARC Indexation $84,000

NSW Government Science Leveraging $710,000 Node Contributions* $1,004,146 CAASTRO IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS 2011 Fund (SLF phase 1) University of Sydney $717,528 NSW Government Science Leveraging $290,000 University of Western Australia $164,257 Fund (SLF phase 2) University of Melbourne $81,568 DIISR International Science Linkages (ISL) $50,000 Swinburne University of Technology $913,066 Program Australian National University $778,610 ARC LIEF (UWA) $60,000 Curtin University $349,097

Other** $37,294 Other** $- CSIRO $327,210 Australian Astronomical Observatory $790,620 TOTAL INCOME $5,106,997 TOTAL ESTIMATED INCOME $6,818,698 Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy $112,410 *Includes payment by ANU for 2011, $69,539 California Institute of Technology $134,673 **Other income includes interest from NSW SLF Grants and Scholarship Contribution The University of Oxford $51,170 Durham University $202,108 Max-Planck Institute for Astrophysics $74,737 2011 EXPENDITURE 2012 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE (from unaudited ARC Grant only) The University of Arizona $60,000 The University of Toronto $41,300 Salaries $1,467,096 Salaries $3,371,968 Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Energies $246,000 Travel, Accommodation and Conferences $363,516 Travel, Accommodation and Conferences $671,500 Other in-kind income (University of Queensland) $12,139 Marketing & Outreach $124,914 Marketing & Outreach $80,000 TOTAL $5,056,493 Operations & Maintenance $103,342 Operations & Maintenance $50,400 CAASTRO 2011 ADDITIONAL INCOME Equipment $102,993 Equipment $167,007 OTHER GRANTS PhD Support $5,709 PhD Suppport $180,000 NSW Government Science Leveraging Fund (SLF) $290,000 Research materials/Experiments $8,874 Research materials/Experiments $168,121 Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, International Science $50,000 Linkages (ISL) Program TOTAL EXPENDITURE $2,176,445 TOTAL 2012 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE $4,688,996 ARC LIEF (University of Western Australia) $60,000 Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF) John Stocker Postdoctoral Fellowship $276,000 BALANCE $2,930,552 ESTIMATED BALANCE $2,129,702 TOTAL $676,000 78 CAASTRO 79 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 CAASTRO PEOPLE

1 2 3 16 17 18

CAASTRO Executive 1. Bryan Gaensler (Director) 2. Lister Staveley-Smith 4 5 6 (Deputy Director) 19 20 21 3. Kate Gunn (Chief Operating Offi cer) 4. Matthew Bailes (Dynamic theme leader) 5. Stuart Wyithe (Evolving theme leader) 6. Brian Schmidt 16. Ray Norris 7 8 9 (Dark theme leader) 17. Carlos Frenk 22 23 24 7. Steven Tingay 18. Guinevere Kauffmann (Education and Outreach) 19. Matthew Colless 20. Michael Kramer Additional Chief 21. Robert Braun Investigators 22. Shri Kulkarni 8. Elaine Sadler 23. Steve Rawlings 9. Frank Briggs 24. Ue-Li Pen 10 11 12 10. Jeremy Mould 25. Xiaohui Fan 25 26 27 11. Rachel Webster 26. Reynald Pain 12. Scott Croom 27. Ravi Subrahmanyan 13. Warrick Couch Associate Partner Investigators Investigators 28. Chris Blake 14. Andrew Hopkins 29. Jamie Bolton 13 14 15 15. Brian Boyle 30. Tamara Davis 28 29 30 80 CAASTRO 81 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

3132 33 46 47 48

34 35 36 49 50 51

46. Jonathon Kocz 47. Jun Koda 48. David Lagattuta 49. Greg Madsen 31. Chris Lidman 50. Elizabeth Mahony 37 38 39 32. JP Macquart 52 53 54 51. Daniel Mitchell 33. Martin Meyer 52. Se-Heon Oh 34. Tara Murphy 53. Edoardo Tescari 35. Chris Power 54. Steven Tremblay 36. Emma Ryan-Weber 55. Cath Trott 37. Stuart Sim 56. Fang Yuan 38. Randall Wayth

40 41 42 CAASTRO CAASTRO 55 56 57 Research Staff Professional Staff 57. Jay Banyer 39. Martin Bell 58. Kim Dorrell 40. Ramesh Bhat (Executive Offi cer, U. 41. Julia Bryant Melbourne) 42. Shin Kee Chung 59. Wiebke Ebeling (Education & Outreach 43. Stephen Curran Coordinator) 44. Andrew Jameson 60. Debra Gooley 43 44 45 45. Eyal Kazin (Finance Offi cer) 58 59 60 82 CAASTRO 83 ANNUAL REPORT 2011

61 62 63 76 77 78

61. Susan Parker 79 64 65 66 (Events and 80 81 Communications 76. Bart Pindor Offi cer) 77. Willem van Straten 62. Tanya Jones (Administrative Coordinator, Curtin U.) CAASTRO Students 63. Katie Lau 78. Loren Bruns, Jr. (Administrative Offi cer, UWA) 79. Bradley Greig 64. Carly Mansfi eld 80. Tao Hong 67 68 69 (Administrator, 82 83 84 81. Kitty Lo Swinburne U.) 82. Ben McKinley 65. Denise Sturgess (Administration Offi cer, 83. Christina Magoulas ANU) 84. Mehran 66. Darshan Thakkar Mossammaparast 85. Sharon Rapoport CAASTRO Affi liates 86. Sarah Reeves 67. James Allison 87. Jennifer Riding 70 71 72 68. Keith Bannister 88. Jonghwan Rhee 85 86 87 69. Duncan Campbell- 89. Morag Scrimgeour Wilson 70. Sean Farrell Not pictured 71. Karl Glazebrook 90. Joanne Daniels 72. Anne Green (Executive Assistant to Director & COO) 73. Paul Hancock 91. Tina Sallis 74. Hansik Kim (Finance Manager, 73 74 75 75. Philip Lah Curtin U.) 88 89 84

PROFESSOR STEVE RAWLINGS 1961-2012 In January 2012, as this Annual Report was being written, the CAASTRO team was shocked by the sudden passing of our valued partner investigator, collaborator and friend, Professor Steve Rawlings. Below we reproduce a brief obituary for Steve, written by his colleagues in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford.

Steve Rawlings was a great man and a great levels, to simulations of what might be detected by astronomer. He did his PhD at the Cavendish differently designed telescopes, to studies of how to Laboratory in Cambridge in the late 1980s. There he meet the enormous computational challenges the SKA worked on giant radio galaxies and quasars, using a would bring. He was motivated by the scientifi c goals variety of astronomical techniques to analyse their radio of these next-generation telescopes: measuring the and optical properties and to determine their distances distribution of hydrogen in the Universe since the Big from the Earth. Bang, discerning the nature of the Dark Energy said to pervade the Universe, measuring the accretion history After a Research Fellowship at St John’s College of the Universe, and the infl uence of radio galaxies Cambridge, Steve moved to Oxford on a research on the formation of structures such as galaxies and council Advanced Fellowship. Increasingly, Steve clusters. He also contributed greatly to studies of the became interested in the high redshift universe and Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect: the imprint on the Cosmic greatly enjoyed, and succeeded in, discovering more- Microwave Background of hot electrons captured in and-more distant radio galaxies. His interests in the deep potential wells of clusters of galaxies. Steve cosmology grew, and diversifi ed into other wavebands: Rawlings’ creativity in these and many other areas X-rays, sub-mm and infra-red. Steve was a prolifi c user greatly enriched the fi eld, and will have an enduring of two telescopes in Hawaii the James Clerk Maxwell infl uence on it. Telescope and the UK Infrared Telescope and made major contributions to our understanding of distant Steve was not only an excellent scientist but also a active galaxies, their gas and dust contents, and dedicated tutor and mentor - he was central to much especially their evolution across cosmic time. of what happens in Oxford Astrophysics through his role as Head of Astrophysics from 2005 to 2010 Steve brought considerable energy to yet-fainter and in many other ways. Steve was inclusive and surveys of objects in the distant universe in the sub- supportive and engendered those values in all who mm and infra-red. He also enjoyed observing at the interacted with him. He was also great fun: many Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in India and his former students and colleagues around the world will passion for very low frequency radio observations recall playing football or cricket with him. Steve’s produced considerable momentum towards the personality and values permeate our activities. He will ambitious, next-generation radio telescopes such as be very sadly missed by all. LoFAR and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). His immense efforts varied from persuasion at political D

School of Physics A28 The University of Sydney NSW 2006 Australia Phone +61 2 9351 2893 Email [email protected] www.caastro.org