Dr Andrew Rigby
Research Associate
Astronomy Group
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology
- andrew.rigby@astro.cf.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 0115
- N/3.25, Queen's Buildings - North Building, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Overview
I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the School of Physics and Astronomy at Cardiff University. In my research, I focus upon the formation of stars out of clouds of gas and dust, mostly in our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
My background in research has been mostly centred on surveys of the Galactic plane, carried out at the 15-m James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii and the IRAM 30-m telescope in southern Spain, which are premier facilities for submillimetre and millimetre observations. The surveys carried out at these facilities have also been crucial in identifying samples of star-forming regions for me and my colleagues to study in greater detail with the latest generation of interferometer facilities such as ALMA and NOEMA.
For more details, please see the Research tab, or visit my personal website.
Biography
Career Overview
- 2016 - present: Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Physics and Astoronomy, Cardiff University
Education
- 2012 - 2016: PhD in Astrophysics, Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University
- 2008 - 2012: MPhys in Astrophysics: University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University (Joint Degree programme)
Publications
2024
- Rigby, A. J. et al. 2024. The dynamic centres of infrared-dark clouds and the formation of cores. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 528(2), pp. 1172–1197. (10.1093/mnras/stae030)
2023
- Bing, L. et al. 2023. NIKA2 Cosmological Legacy Survey. Astronomy & Astrophysics 677, article number: A66. (10.1051/0004-6361/202346579)
- Rani, R., Moore, T. J. T., Eden, D. J., Rigby, A. J., Duarte-Cabral, A. and Lee, Y. 2023. Identification of molecular clouds in emission maps: a comparison between methods in the 13CO/C18O (J = 3?2) Heterodyne Inner Milky Way Plane Survey. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 523(2), pp. 1832-1852. (10.1093/mnras/stad1507)
- Karoly, J. et al. 2023. The JCMT BISTRO Survey: Studying the Complex Magnetic Field of L43. Astrophysical Journal 952(1), article number: 29. (10.3847/1538-4357/acd6f2)
- Muñoz-Echeverría, M. et al. 2023. Multi-probe analysis of the galaxy cluster CL J1226.9+3332. Astronomy & Astrophysics 671, article number: A28. (10.1051/0004-6361/202244981)
- Ward-Thompson, D. et al. 2023. First BISTRO observations of the dark cloud Taurus L1495A-B10: the role of the magnetic field in the earliest stages of low-mass star formation. Astrophysical Journal 946(2) (10.3847/1538-4357/acbea4)
- Tahani, M. et al. 2023. JCMT BISTRO Observations: magnetic field morphology of bubbles associated with NGC 6334. Astrophysical Journal 944(2), article number: 139. (10.3847/1538-4357/acac81)
- Park, G. et al. 2023. 12 co (3–2) high-resolution survey (cohrs) of the galactic plane: complete data release. Astrophysical Journal Supplement 264, article number: 16. (10.3847/1538-4365/ac9b59)
2022
- Ching, T. et al. 2022. The JCMT BISTRO-2 survey: magnetic fields of the massive DR21 filament. Astrophysical Journal 941, article number: 122. (10.3847/1538-4357/ac9dfb)
- Hwang, J. et al. 2022. The JCMT BISTRO Survey: a spiral magnetic field in a hub-filament structure, Monoceros R2. Astrophysical Journal 941(1), article number: 51. (10.3847/1538-4357/ac99e0)
- Wells, M. R. A. et al. 2022. ATLASGAL - star forming efficiencies and the Galactic star formation rate. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 516(3), pp. 4245–4255. (10.1093/mnras/stac2420)
- Rani, R., Moore, T. J. T., Eden, D. J. and Rigby, A. J. 2022. Solenoidal turbulent modes and star formation efficiency in Galactic plane molecular clouds. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 515(1), pp. 271-285. (10.1093/mnras/stac1812)
- Matsuura, M. et al. 2022. Spitzer and Herschel studies of dust in supernova remnants in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 513(1), pp. 1154-1174. (10.1093/mnras/stac583)
- Urquhart, J. S. et al. 2022. ATLASGAL - evolutionary trends in high-mass star formation. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 510(3), pp. 3389–3407. (10.1093/mnras/stab3511)
- Kwon, W. et al. 2022. B-fields in Star-forming Region Observations (BISTRO): Magnetic fields in the filamentary structures of Serpens Main. Astrophysical Journal 926(2), article number: 163. (10.3847/1538-4357/ac4bbe)
- Colombo, D. et al. 2022. The SEDIGISM survey: the influence of spiral arms on the molecular gas distribution of the inner Milky Way. Astronomy & Astrophysics 658, pp. 1-38., article number: A54. (10.1051/0004-6361/202141287)
- De Petris, M. et al. 2022. Crab nebula at 260 GHz with the NIKA2 polarimeter: Implications for the polarization angle calibration of future CMB experiments. EPJ Web of Conferences 257, article number: 42. (10.1051/epjconf/202225700042)
- De Petris, M. et al. 2022. Galactic Star Formation with NIKA2 (GASTON): Evidence of mass accretion onto dense clumps. EPJ Web of Conferences 257, article number: 41. (10.1051/epjconf/202225700041)
- De Petris, M. et al. 2022. Probing the role of magnetic fields in star-forming filaments: NIKA2-Pol commissioning results toward OMC-1. EPJ Web of Conferences 257, article number: 2. (10.1051/epjconf/202225700002)
- De Petris, M. et al. 2022. Galactic star formation with NIKA2 (GASTON): Filament convergence and its link to star formation. EPJ Web of Conferences 257, article number: 37. (10.1051/epjconf/202225700037)
- De Petris, M. et al. 2022. The LPSZ-CLASH galaxy cluster sample: Combining lensing and hydrostatic mass estimates. EPJ Web of Conferences 257, article number: 33. (10.1051/epjconf/202225700033)
- De Petris, M. et al. 2022. Multi-probe analysis of the galaxy cluster CL J1226.9+3332: Hydrostatic mass and hydrostatic-to-lensing bias. EPJ Web of Conferences 257, article number: 32. (10.1051/epjconf/202225700032)
- De Petris, M. et al. 2022. The NIKA2 Sunyaev-Zeldovich Large Program: Precise galaxy cluster physics for an accurate cluster-based cosmology. EPJ Web of Conferences 257, article number: 38. (10.1051/epjconf/202225700038)
- Artis, E. et al. 2022. PSZ2 G091: A massive double cluster atz~ 0.822 observed by the NIKA2 camera. EPJ Web of Conferences 257, article number: 3. (10.1051/epjconf/202225700003)
2021
- Anderson, M. et al. 2021. An ALMA study of hub-filament systems - I. On the clump mass concentration within the most massive cores. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 508(2), pp. 2964–2978. (10.1093/mnras/stab2674)
- Lyo, A. et al. 2021. The JCMT BISTRO survey: an 850/450 μm polarization study of NGC 2071IR in Orion B. Astrophysical Journal 918(2), article number: 85. (10.3847/1538-4357/ac0ce9)
- Schuller, F. et al. 2021. Probing the structure of a massive filament: ArTéMiS 350 and 450 μm mapping of the integral-shaped filament in Orion A. Astronomy and Astrophysics 651, article number: A36. (10.1051/0004-6361/202038259)
- Rigby, A. J. et al. 2021. GASTON: Galactic Star Formation with NIKA2. Evidence for the mass growth of star-forming clumps. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 502(3), pp. 4576-4596. (10.1093/mnras/stab200)
- Rigby, A. J. et al. 2021. GASTON: Galactic star formation with NIKA2 - evidence for the mass growth of star-forming clumps. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 502(3), pp. 4576-4596. (10.1093/mnras/stab200)
- Arzoumanian, D. et al. 2021. Dust polarized emission observations of NGC 6334. Astronomy and Astrophysics 647, article number: A78. (10.1051/0004-6361/202038624)
- Ngoc, N. B. et al. 2021. Observations of magnetic fields surrounding LkHα 101 taken by the BISTRO survey with JCMT-POL-2. Astrophysical Journal 908(1), article number: 10. (10.3847/1538-4357/abd0fc)
- Duarte Cabral, A. et al. 2021. The SEDIGISM survey: molecular clouds in the inner galaxy. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 500(3), pp. 3027-3049. (10.1093/mnras/staa2480)
- Urquhart, J. S. et al. 2021. SEDIGISM-ATLASGAL: dense gas fraction and star formation efficiency across the galactic disk. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 500(3), article number: staa2512. (10.1093/mnras/staa2512)
- Eden, D. J. et al. 2021. Characteristic scale of star formation. I. Clump formation efficiency on local scales. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 500(1), pp. 191-210. (10.1093/mnras/staa3188)
- Schuller, F. et al. 2021. The SEDIGISM survey: first data release and overview of the Galactic structure*. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 500(3), article number: staa2369. (10.1093/mnras/staa2369)
- Querejeta, M. et al. 2021. ALMA resolves giant molecular clouds in a tidal dwarf galaxy. Astronomy and Astrophysics 645, article number: A97. (10.1051/0004-6361/202038955)
- Eswaraiah, C. et al. 2021. The JCMT BISTRO Survey: revealing the diverse magnetic field morphologies in taurus dense cores with sensitive submillimeter polarimetry. Astrophysical Journal Letters 912(2), article number: L27. (10.3847/2041-8213/abeb1c)
2020
- Eden, D. J. et al. 2020. CHIMPS2: survey description and 12CO emission in the Galactic centre. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 498(4), pp. 5936-5951. (10.1093/mnras/staa2734)
- Peretto, N. et al. 2020. The accretion history of high-mass stars: An ArTéMiS pilot study of infrared dark clouds. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 496(3), pp. 3482-3501. (10.1093/mnras/staa1656)
- Doi, Y. et al. 2020. The JCMT BISTRO Survey: magnetic fields associated with a network of filaments in NGC 1333. Astrophysical Journal 899(28) (10.3847/1538-4357/aba1e2)
- Peretto, N. et al. 2020. GASTON: Galactic Star Formation with NIKA2 A new population of cold massive sources discovered. EPJ Web of Conferences 228, article number: 18. (10.1051/epjconf/202022800018)
2019
- Rigby, A. J. et al. 2019. CHIMPS: physical properties of molecular clumps across the inner Galaxy. Astronomy and Astrophysics 632, article number: A58. (10.1051/0004-6361/201935236)
- Coudé, S. et al. 2019. The JCMT BISTRO survey: the magnetic field of the Barnard 1 star-forming region. The Astrophysical Journal 877(2), article number: 88. (10.3847/1538-4357/ab1b23)
- Liu, J. et al. 2019. The JCMT BISTRO Survey: The magnetic field in the starless core ρ Ophiuchus C. Astrophysical Journal 877(1), article number: 43. (10.3847/1538-4357/ab0958)
- Wang, J. et al. 2019. JCMT BISTRO Survey: Magnetic Fields within the Hub-filament Structure in IC 5146. Astrophysical Journal 876(1), article number: 42. (10.3847/1538-4357/ab13a2)
- Eden, D. J. et al. 2019. SCOPE: SCUBA-2 Continuum observations of pre-protostellar evolution - Survey description and compact source catalogue. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 485(2), pp. 2895-2908. (10.1093/mnras/stz574)
2018
- Catalano, A. et al. 2018. The NIKA2 instrument at 30-m IRAM telescope: performance and results. Journal of Low Temperature Physics 193(5-6), pp. 916-922. (10.1007/s10909-018-1884-5)
- Rigby, A. J. et al. 2018. A NIKA view of two star-forming infrared dark clouds: Dust emissivity variations and mass concentration. Astronomy and Astrophysics 615, pp. -., article number: A18. (10.1051/0004-6361/201732258)
- Kwon, J. et al. 2018. A first look at BISTRO observations of the ρ Oph-A core. Astrophysical Journal 859(1), article number: 4. (10.3847/1538-4357/aabd82)
- Adam, R. et al. 2018. The NIKA2 large field-of-view millimeter continuum camera for the 30-m IRAM telescope. Astronomy and Astrophysics 609, article number: A115. (10.1051/0004-6361/201731503)
- Rigby, A. et al. 2018. A NIKA view of two star-forming infrared dark clouds: dust emissivity variations and mass concentration. Astronomy and Astrophysics 615, article number: A18. (10.1051/0004-6361/201732258)
- Soam, A. et al. 2018. Magnetic fields towards Ophiuchus-b derived from scuba-2 polarization measurements. Astrophysical Journal 861, article number: 65. (10.3847/1538-4357/aac4a6)
2017
- Bracco, A. et al. 2017. Probing changes of dust properties along a chain of solar-type prestellar and protostellar cores in Taurus with NIKA. Astronomy and Astrophysics 604, article number: A52. (10.1051/0004-6361/201731117)
- Eden, D. J. et al. 2017. The JCMT Plane Survey: first complete data release - emission maps and compact source catalogue. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 469(2), pp. 2163-2183. (10.1093/mnras/stx874)
- Ward-Thompson, D. et al. 2017. First results from BISTRO: a SCUBA-2 polarimeter survey of the Gould Belt. Astrophysical Journal 842(1), pp. 66-75. (10.3847/1538-4357/aa70a0)
2016
- Rigby, A. et al. 2016. CHIMPS: the13CO/C18O (J = 3 → 2) Heterodyne Inner Milky Way Plane Survey. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 456(3), pp. 2885. (10.1093/mnras/stv2808)
2015
- Moore, T. J. T. et al. 2015. The JCMT Plane Survey: early results from the ℓ = 30° field. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 453(4), pp. 4264-4277. (10.1093/mnras/stv1833)
- Eden, D. J., Moore, T. J. T., Urquhart, J. S., Elia, D., Plume, R., Rigby, A. and Thompson, M. A. 2015. Star formation scales and efficiency in Galactic spiral arms. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 452(1), pp. 289-300. (10.1093/mnras/stv1323)
My research interests are primarily focused on the processes which convert clouds of cold molecular gas and dust into stars. In my current role as a postdoctral researcher here at Cardiff, I am currently working on:
- The deepester ever wide-area 1mm and 2mm observations of the Galactic plane in the GASTON (Galactic Star Formation with NIKA2), with which we are searching for evidence of the formation mechanism for high-mass stars, which may be fundamentally different from that of low-mass stars. GASTON uses the new NIKA2 camera on the IRAM 30-m telescope in southern Spain.
- Inteferometric observations of dense clumps of gas and dust with NOEMA at 3mm, and ALMA at 1mm. I am leading an observational programme at each facility with the goal of characterising the kinematics and fragmentation properties of the potentially star-forming sources as function of evolution and morphology, to try to understand the conditions that are required to form stars and star clusters.
- The CHIMPS and CHIMPS2 projects: a large-programme being carried out at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii. These projects combine as a large-area survey of the emission of carbon monoxide within the Milky Way, giving a high-resolution view of the distribution of molecular clouds across our own Galaxy. The CHIMPS data are particularly good for studying the structure of the Galaxy, and its connection to the modes of star formation that it contains.
