Dr Phil Cigan

Research Associate
Astronomy Group

School of Physics and Astronomy

: phil.cigan@astro.cf.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 2087 1984
: 53, The Parade, 53 The Parade, 52 The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AB

I am an observational astrophysicist specializing in the study of dust and gas in galaxies. I focus primarily on the far infrared to radio range of the spectrum, though my work in low-metallicity dwarf galaxies and other projects does let me dip my toes back into the shorter wavelengths as well. For more details on my research, please click the Research tab.

Ph.D. in Physics (Dissertation in Astrophysics), New Mexico Tech

M.Sc. in Physics, New Mexico Tech

B.S. in Physics and Astronomy-Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison

2020

De Looze, I.et al. 2020. JINGLE – IV. Dust, H i gas and metal scaling laws in the local universe. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 496(3), pp. 3668-3687. (10.1093/mnras/staa1496)
Chawner, H.et al. 2020. A complete catalogue of dusty supernova remnants in the galactic plane. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

2019

Whitworth, A. P.et al. 2019. The dust in M31. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 489(4), pp. 5436-5452. (10.1093/mnras/stz2166)
Cigan, P.et al. 2019. High angular resolution ALMA images of dust and molecules in the SN 1987A ejecta. Astrophysical Journal 886(1), article number: 51. (10.3847/1538-4357/ab4b46)
Smith, M. W. L.et al. 2019. JINGLE, a JCMT legacy survey of dust and gas for galaxy evolution studies: II. SCUBA-2 850µm data reduction and dust flux density catalogues. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 486(3), pp. 4166-4185. (10.1093/mnras/stz1102)
Larsson, J.et al. 2019. A Three-dimensional View of Molecular Hydrogen in SN 1987A. Astrophysical Journal 873(1), article number: 15. (10.3847/1538-4357/ab03d1)
Larsson, J.et al. 2019. A three-dimensional view of Molecular Hydrogen in SN 1987A. Astrophysical Journal 873(1), article number: 15. (10.3847/1538-4357/ab03d1)
Chawner, H.et al. 2019. A catalogue of Galactic supernova remnants in the far-infrared: revealing ejecta dust in pulsar wind nebulae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 483(1), pp. 70-118. (10.1093/mnras/sty2942)
Matsuura, M.et al. 2019. SOFIA mid-infrared observations of Supernova 1987A in 2016 - forward shocks and possible dust re-formation in the post-shocked region. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 482(2), pp. 1715-1723., article number: sty2734. (10.1093/mnras/sty2734)

2018

Saintonge, A.et al. 2018. JINGLE, a JCMT legacy survey of dust and gas for galaxy evolution studies: I. Survey overview and first results. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 481(3), pp. 3497-3519. (10.1093/mnras/sty2499)
Dunne, L.et al. 2018. The unusual ISM in blue and dusty gas-rich galaxies (BADGRS). Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 479(1), pp. 1221-1239. (10.1093/mnras/sty1465)
Alp, D.et al. 2018. The 30-year search for the compact object in SN 1987A. Astrophysical Journal 864, article number: 174. (10.3847/1538-4357/aad739)
Maddox, S.et al. 2018. The Herschel-Atlas data release 2 paper II: catalogues of far-infrared and sub-millimetre sources in the fields at the South and North Galactic poles. Astrophysical Journal 236(2), article number: 30. (10.3847/1538-4365/aab8fc)
Eales, S.et al. 2018. The new galaxy evolution paradigm revealed by the Herschel surveys. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 473(3), pp. 3507-3524. (10.1093/mnras/stx2548)

2017

Smith, M. W. L.et al. 2017. The Herschel–ATLAS data release 2, paper I. Submillimeter and far-infrared images of the south and north Galactic poles: the largest Herschel survey of the extragalactic sky. Astrophysical Journal Supplement 233(2), article number: 26. (10.3847/1538-4365/aa9b35)
Baes, M.et al. 2017. Measuring the dust content and formation in SN 1987A using detailed radiative transfer modelling. Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union 12(S331), pp. 300-303. (10.1017/S1743921317004562)
Cigan, P., Gomez, H. and Matsuura, M. 2017. High-resolution observations of dust in SN 1987A. Presented at: International Astronomical Union, Vol. 12. Vol. S331. Cambridge University Press (CUP) pp. 290-293., (10.1017/S1743921317004604)
De Vis, P.et al. 2017. Using dust, gas and stellar mass selected samples to probe dust sources and sinks in low metallicity galaxies. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 471(2), pp. 1743-1765. (10.1093/mnras/stx981)
Abellan, F.et al. 2017. Very deep inside the SN 1987a core ejecta: molecular structures seen in 3D. The Astrophysical Journal 842(2), article number: L24. (10.3847/2041-8213/aa784c)
Fahrion, K.et al. 2017. Disentangling the ISM phases of the dwarf galaxy NGC 4214 using [C II] SOFIA/GREAT observations. Astronomy & Astrophysics 599, article number: A9. (10.1051/0004-6361/201629341)

2016

Valiante, E.et al. 2016. The Herschel ★-ATLAS data release 1 – I. Maps, catalogues and number counts. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 462(3), pp. 3146-3179., article number: stw1806. (10.1093/mnras/stw1806)
Wehner, E. M. H.et al. 2016. II Zwicky 23 and family: a group in interaction. The Astronomical Journal 152(3), article number: 69. (10.3847/0004-6256/152/3/69)
Oteo, I.et al. 2016. Witnessing the birth of the red sequence: alma high-resolution imaging of [c ii] and dust in two interacting ultra-red starbursts atz= 4.425. Astrophysical Journal 827(1), pp. 34-45. (10.3847/0004-637X/827/1/34)

My current research is primarily focused on astrophysical dust, from how it forms to how it affects its host environment. My primary role at Cardiff is the ERC CosmicDust project, which aims to understand the role of dust and gas in galaxies in the local universe and over cosmic time. I have made a significant focus on dust production within the ejecta of SN 1987A, and have contributed to the H-ATLAS and JINGLE surveys. I am also interested in the ISM of low-metallicity galaxies, and am a working member of the LITTLE THINGS consortium.