current/upcoming projects
The Angstrom Project. I am Principal Investigator for The Angstrom Project, which employs a global network of 2m-class telescopes, some of which operate robotically, to detect short-duration microlensing events in the bulge of the Andromeda Galaxy. The survey aims to use microlensing to constrain the three-dimensional geometry and stellar composition of the central regions of our nearest giant galactic neighbour.
(Preprints/papers from this project, or visit the Angstrom Project wiki)
Synthetic microlensing models. Together with Annie Robin and Doug Marshall, I have recently constructed the most detailed theoretical simulation to date of the distribution of microlensing events towards the inner Galaxy, where the vast majority of events have been detected. The simulation is based upon the Besancon synthetic model of the Galaxy, and incorporates a full 3D map of interstellar extinction. Synthetic microlensing maps like these will be crucial to exploit fully the large microlensing datasets now becoming available for constraining the 3D structure of the inner Galaxy.
(Preprints/papers from this project)
VVV. I am a member of the Science Team for the Vista Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) survey. VVV is large Public Survey to be undertaken on VISTA, the World's largest infrared (IR) telescope, which is due to see first light from Paranal, Chile, in 2009. VVV will repeatedly survey around 300 sq. degrees of the Galactic Bulge and a further 200 sq. degrees of the disk in several IR filters. Its primary science driver is to map the 3D distribution of the inner Galaxy using RR Lyrae variable stars, which act as reliable distance indicators at IR wavelengths.
(Preprints/papers from this project)
Extra-solar planet detection. I have been a member of the RoboNet
follow-up network and I am currently also involved in the MiNDSTEp
programme. Both networks look for extra-solar planets using the microlensing
effect.
(Preprint/papers from the project)
