[ASA] CoE on Transient Observations, Cosmic Explosions, Stellar Calamities, and the like

[Alexander Heger]

Dear Colleagues,

We are soliciting expressions of interest from potential chief/associate 
investigators for a proposed new ARC Centre for Excellence (CoE) bid in 
the field of Transient Observations, Cosmic Explosions, Stellar 
Calamities, and the like.

Transient science is entering a new era.  The skies are not static and 
transients are one of the pillars of astronomy.  Understanding the 
formation, evolution, and deaths of stars underpins all areas of 
astrophysics - such as reionisation and galaxy formation, measuring dark 
energy, planet formation, high-energy particles, gravitational waves, 
and cosmic chemical evolution.  Far beyond the enormous growth in the 
recent two decades, we will soon be facing an unprecedented flood of 
observations and data from the Vera Rubin Observatory (VRO) in Chile, 
which will detect hundreds of thousands of transients powered by a wide 
range of physics, along with transients from upcoming space missions, 
and other all-sky surveys.  Being ~8 hours behind VRO and in the same 
hemisphere, Australia is in a unique position to follow up on newly 
discovered or fast-evolving transients, leveraging our radio, IR, 
optical, and high-energy transient facilities and Antarctic involvement, 
and our multi-wavelength observational, data analysis, and modelling 
expertise.  This is on top of current research in other transient hot 
topics, such as fast radio bursts, super-luminous supernovae, off-axis 
gamma-ray bursts, and fast blue optical transients.  With VRO first 
light in about a year, now is the unique time for a concerted effort in 
Australia.

Goals of the Centre:
--------------------

1) Coordination of multi-wavelength coverage of all transients

2) Fast and early coordinated observations of transients

3) End-to-end theoretical modelling effort and model identification of 
observed transients

4) Building of new instrumentation, telescopes, and data infrastructure 
to fulfil our science goals

5)Integration of models and observations, place constraints on unknown 
physics and model parameters


The Centre will place Australia as a leader in transient science with 
the novel and necessary full coordination in both observational and 
theoretical efforts in detection, follow-up, instrumentation, data 
analysis, and modelling.  It will take specific advantage of Australia’s 
unique location and facilities.  At the core, we want to bring together 
observers with different expertise and theorists to all speak the same 
language, e.g., providing observational quantities in theorist’s units 
and vice versa, to facilitate integrated understanding of transients and 
to build up data resources for the science community and the public.  
Covering a young field with a large potential for growth, the Centre 
will provide opportunities for professional development and exploration 
of new ideas and technologies.  Large data sets that cannot yet all be 
adequately analysed in an automated way alone, and with new data 
arriving on a daily basis, the Centre will offer many opportunities for 
active and continuous community involvement, outreach, and education, 
over a wide range of target groups.


If you are interested in being kept in the loop/being further involved 
with the Centre of Excellence bid for transient sciences, please 
complete the survey before Friday Feb 5 (link below) with the following 
in mind:

* What synergies with such a CoE could you envision, for your own 
science and beyond?

* Please suggest interesting science ideas, and connections to the 
Australian Science Community and Australian facilities.

* For expressions of interest, please fill in form at 
https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/eFhXCROND2u9PJYlS9Mt_E?domain=docs.google.com

* An expression of interest does not constitute any commitment to this 
CoE.  At this stage, it is only for the purpose of discussing ideas and 
directions.


Next steps:
-----------

* Meeting 1–4pm AEDT for interested parties to present their science 
cases (likely 3rd week of February)

* Down-select science topics and add detail to science case (anticipated 
Early March)

* Based on CE20, you may be CI on up to two EOIs, similar to DPs; AIs 
need not be named on the EOI.

* RMS opens 8 June, 2021, RTNA 14 July 2021, EOI due on July 28, 17:00 AEST.

* Each centre is supposed to be evaluated on its own right.


The Centre is planned to start as soon as funding becomes available 
(2023) and to run for a full 7 years, i.e., January 2023 - December 2029.


On behalf of the organisers,
Alexander Heger


________________________________________________________________
Dr Alexander Heger                                     Professor
    web: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/bBWFCVARKgCrj7BKHz-PQ7?domain=2sn.org           School of Physics and Astronomy
  phone: +61-3-9905-4478                       19 Rainforest Walk
    fax: +61-3-9905-3637              Monash University, Vic 3800
mailto: Alexander.Heger at monash.edu                     Australia