Ages, distances, and the initial mass functions of stellar clusters (2000)
Journal Article
Jeffries, R. (2000). Ages, distances, and the initial mass functions of stellar clusters. arXiv,

We provide a review of the current status of several topics on the ages, distances, and mass functions of open clusters, with a particular emphasis on illuminating the areas of uncertainty. Hipparcos has obtained parallaxes for nearby open clusters t... Read More about Ages, distances, and the initial mass functions of stellar clusters.

The first K2 roAp star: HD 24355 pulsating in a distorted quadruploe mode
Presentation / Conference
Smalley. The first K2 roAp star: HD 24355 pulsating in a distorted quadruploe mode. Presented at eismology of the Sun and the Distant Stars 2016 – Using Today’s Successes to Prepare the Future – TASC2 & KASC9 Workshop – SPACEINN & HELAS8 Conference

We present an analysis of the first K2 observations of a rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star, HD 24355. The star was discovered to be a roAp star by [1], with a frequency of 224.31 d-1 (2596.18 µHz; P = 6.4 min) and an amplitude of 1.51 mmag in SuperW... Read More about The first K2 roAp star: HD 24355 pulsating in a distorted quadruploe mode.

Observational studies of pre-main sequence stars
Thesis
(1988). Observational studies of pre-main sequence stars

This work investigates selected young stars, paying particular attention to their photometric and polarimetric characteristics. The stars observed represent particular sub-classes of the Orion Population of young stars: stars of about one solar maSSj... Read More about Observational studies of pre-main sequence stars.

The discovery and characterisation of the extrasolar planets of WASP-South
Thesis
(2013). The discovery and characterisation of the extrasolar planets of WASP-South

SuperWASP is a ground-based survey for transiting extrasolar planets. I present some of my contributions to the project's infrastructure and operations, as well as the discovery and characterisation of seven short-period, giant, transiting extrasolar... Read More about The discovery and characterisation of the extrasolar planets of WASP-South.

The Stardome: using exoplanet research as a gateway into Science and Higher Education.
Digital Artefact
Hirschi, & Jeffries. (2021). The Stardome: using exoplanet research as a gateway into Science and Higher Education

Impact REF21; KEELE_PUBLIC_ENGAGEMENT_STARDOME_PROJECT

Fundamental Properties of Solar-Type Eclipsing Binary Stars, and Kinematic Biases of Exoplanet Host Stars
Thesis
(2015). Fundamental Properties of Solar-Type Eclipsing Binary Stars, and Kinematic Biases of Exoplanet Host Stars

This thesis is in three parts: 1) a kinematical study of exoplanet host stars, 2) a study of the detached eclipsing binary V1094 Tau and 3) and observations of other eclipsing binaries.

Part I investigates kinematical biases between two methods of... Read More about Fundamental Properties of Solar-Type Eclipsing Binary Stars, and Kinematic Biases of Exoplanet Host Stars.

Dynamical evolution of globular cluster mass functions
Thesis
(2015). Dynamical evolution of globular cluster mass functions

Simple single parameter models describing the evolution of globular cluster mass functions (GCMFs) are applied to early type Virgo galaxies. These models assume the dominant form of mass-loss in globular clusters (GCs) is two-body relaxation driven e... Read More about Dynamical evolution of globular cluster mass functions.

Studies of cosmic dust analogues using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction
Thesis
(2014). Studies of cosmic dust analogues using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction

The structural evolution of cosmic dust analogues has been investigated using in situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (SXPD) at the Diamond Light Source. Amorphous Mg/Ca silicates are produced as analogues of cosmic dust using a modified sol-gel... Read More about Studies of cosmic dust analogues using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction.

Evolution of electron capture supernova progenitors: new models, improved nuclear physics and hydrodynamic mixing uncertainties
Thesis
(2014). Evolution of electron capture supernova progenitors: new models, improved nuclear physics and hydrodynamic mixing uncertainties

Electron capture supernovae (EC-SNe) are the deaths of approximately 8-10M stars. In this thesis, the evolution of 8-12M stars is calculated using the MESA stellar evolution code. The aims of this thesis are to produce the most advanced and up-to-dat... Read More about Evolution of electron capture supernova progenitors: new models, improved nuclear physics and hydrodynamic mixing uncertainties.

Probing the diffuse interstellar medium with diffuse interstellar bands
Thesis
(2014). Probing the diffuse interstellar medium with diffuse interstellar bands

This work investigates the small scale structure of the Diffuse Interstellar Medium. To do this optical spectroscopy is used to obtain spectra of early type stars which are used as background targets with which the Diffuse Interstellar Medium (ISM) i... Read More about Probing the diffuse interstellar medium with diffuse interstellar bands.

Starspot properties and photometric parameters of transiting planets and their host stars
Thesis
(2014). Starspot properties and photometric parameters of transiting planets and their host stars

To begin understanding how the architecture of hot Jupiter planetary systems can be so radically different from that of our own solar system, requires the dynamical evolution of planets to be known. By measuring the sky-projected obliquity ? of a sys... Read More about Starspot properties and photometric parameters of transiting planets and their host stars.

A survey for pulsations in A-type stars using SuperWASP
Thesis
(2015). A survey for pulsations in A-type stars using SuperWASP

A survey of A-type stars is conducted with the SuperWASP archive in the search for pulsationally variable stars. Over 1.5 million stars are selected based on their (J - H) colour. Periodograms are calculated for light curves which have been extracted... Read More about A survey for pulsations in A-type stars using SuperWASP.

Outflows from galaxy nuclei: dynamics and implications for scaling relations
Thesis
(2014). Outflows from galaxy nuclei: dynamics and implications for scaling relations

The M–s relations observed between the masses of central massive objects (CMOs: either a nuclear star cluster or a supermassive black hole) in galaxy nuclei and the stellar velocity dispersion of their host galaxy bulges strongly suggest that the evo... Read More about Outflows from galaxy nuclei: dynamics and implications for scaling relations.

Spectral analyses of solar-like stars
Thesis
(2015). Spectral analyses of solar-like stars

Accurate stellar parameters are important not just to understand the stars themselves, but also for understanding the planets that orbit them. Despite the availability of high quality spectra, there are still many uncertainties in stellar spectroscop... Read More about Spectral analyses of solar-like stars.

Asteroseismology with SuperWASP
Presentation / Conference
Smalley, B. Asteroseismology with SuperWASP

The highly successful SuperWASP planetary transit finding programme has surveyed a large fraction of both the northern and southern skies. There now exists in the its archive over 420 billion photometric measurements for more than 31 million stars. S... Read More about Asteroseismology with SuperWASP.

X-ray spectral variability of Seyfert galaxies
Thesis
(2013). X-ray spectral variability of Seyfert galaxies

A Suzaku survey of iron lines in type 1 Active Galactic Nuclei
Thesis
(2013). A Suzaku survey of iron lines in type 1 Active Galactic Nuclei

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are some of the most energetic objects which have ever been observed and each of these harbour a supermassive black hole at its centre. By looking at the X-ray emission from these nuclei, information can be gathered regar... Read More about A Suzaku survey of iron lines in type 1 Active Galactic Nuclei.

Carbon burning and hydrodynamic mixing uncertainties in stellar models
Thesis
(2011). Carbon burning and hydrodynamic mixing uncertainties in stellar models

The aim of this thesis is to investigate uncertainties in the input physics of stellar models that are relevant for the evolution of stars and the related nucleosynthesis, in particular the s-process. Nuclear reaction rates and mixing prescriptions i... Read More about Carbon burning and hydrodynamic mixing uncertainties in stellar models.

X-ray spectroscopy of high ionisation outflows in Suzaku observed type I active galaxies
Thesis
(2013). X-ray spectroscopy of high ionisation outflows in Suzaku observed type I active galaxies

In this thesis I present the culmination of my research into the phenomenon of AGN winds in the X-ray regime using the Suzaku X-ray telescope. There are two studies described in this thesis. In the first I perform a deep broad-band spectral analysis... Read More about X-ray spectroscopy of high ionisation outflows in Suzaku observed type I active galaxies.

Scaling relations between super-massive black holes, galaxies and dark matter halos
Thesis
Larkin, A. (2017). Scaling relations between super-massive black holes, galaxies and dark matter halos

The observed correlations between the masses of supermassive black holes (SMBH), MBH, with a gravitational influence on parsec scales, and properties of the host galaxy, measured on kiloparsec scales, strongly suggest that the SMBH and galaxy co-evol... Read More about Scaling relations between super-massive black holes, galaxies and dark matter halos.