James Allison

Research

I am a radio astronomer based at CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science. I am also a regular visitor to the Sydney Institute for Astronomy and an affiliated member of the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics. My current research focuses on the detection of atomic hydrogen within galaxies where the nucleus is active and emitting strong radio emission. Observations allow us to study the trigger mechanisms and fuelling of such activity, as well as the effect of radio-mode feedback on the surrounding interstellar medium. I am a member of the ASKAP First Large Absorption Survey in HI (FLASH), a survey science project that will be used to detect atomic hydrogen to high redshifts.

The Cosmic Background Imager 2 on the Chajnantor Plateau. Image Credit: Clive Dickinson.

During my doctorate I used a radio interferometer (CBI2) to observe and collect data from the Cosmic Microwave Background. These data were used to model the physical properties of massive galaxy clusters through their interaction with the CMB, a phenomenon known as the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect. Below is a brief synopsis of my thesis in Wordle form.

A Wordle of my D.Phil Thesis, created using the website by Jonathan Feinberg.

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