The research in this proposal tries to answer a string of questions about why we are here. Not just why you and I are here. Not even why life started. But why we have a Solar System, at all. We are sure the planets formed from a swirling disk of gas and dust. However, we do not know much about how the planets formed, and how material in the disk was redistributed. We can get clues from precise measurements of small differences in the kinds of atoms present. This isotopic heterogeneity came from stars that predated our sun. These act as a signature of the dust characterising different parts of the disk allowing us to track motions rather like a detective uses fingerprints to trace a criminal. We have tentative evidence that Mars, a small planet, actually formed very fast, at the same time as Jupiter should have been forming a bit further away. Maybe Jupiter accumulated most of the dust and debris and did not leave much for Mars to get bigger. The first thing to do is to check out this evidence on timing and see if it is right. We need to improve the trace element and isotopic measurements to achieve this. We think the Moon formed from the debris left from a collision between Earth and another planet. The debris was so hot that it vaporised and some was lost to space. We have evidence that alkali metals like rubidium were also lost. We need to check out this theory with more measurements and see what else evaporated when planets were made. We also think metal cores form from an ocean of molten rock created from the incredible heat resulting from collisions with other planets and impactors. We can figure out the temperatures and pressures and composition of the planet at the time by measuring trace elements and comparing their concentration with what you predict from experiments. We want to know how melting works on planets that have lots of volcanism. We will model the behaviour of one of Jupiter's moons (called Io) and make comparisons with the early Earth which is a time when tidal effects would have produced extensive melting. We need to establish how volcanism generates atmospheres. The depletion in volatile elements in the terrestrial planets provide clues but they are not well understood. We will develop new models to try and constrain this. We will also study how volcanism affects planetary environments and their habitability. In particular, we will investigate how lightning is generated in volcanic planetary environments. Lastly, we will look at the issue of why the basic building blocks of life on Earth have a certain 'left handed' molecular structure. We think this chirality may have something to do with the way amino acids interacted with clays in the early Earth and will conduct experiments aimed at evaluating this.

The main aim of this project is to explore novel emergent phenomena in far from equilibrium quantum systems across different fields of research: from solid-state light-matter systems such as superconducting circuits, semiconductor micro-structures and quantum spins to ultra-cold atomic gases. Such cross-fertilisation between traditionally distinct areas is an essential ingredient in successful approach to understanding far from equilibrium collective processes together with the development of new efficient theoretical tools. EPSRC Physics Grand Challenge Survey has identified that "compared with that of equilibrium states, our understanding of states far from equilibrium is in its infancy" and that "on the theory front, there are significant gaps in knowledge, especially in quantum theory". At the same time the problem is "of considerable scientific and technological importance" and "with unforeseeable potential for applications". We shall study exotic quantum orders, bistabilities, pattern formation and other collective phenomena in state-of-the art light-matter systems. An important aspect of our project is to focus on systems, or their features, which in the longer run could lead to potential device applications: from polariton lasers and LEDs, low threshold optical switches, optical transistors, logic gates and finally polariton integrated circuits to quantum computers. Our theoretical analysis will be linked directly to the experiments of our project partners worldwide.

The main aim of this project is to explore novel emergent phenomena in far from equilibrium quantum systems across different fields of research: from solid-state light-matter systems such as superconducting circuits, semiconductor micro-structures and quantum spins to ultra-cold atomic gases. Such cross-fertilisation between traditionally distinct areas is an essential ingredient in successful approach to understanding far from equilibrium collective processes together with the development of new efficient theoretical tools. EPSRC Physics Grand Challenge Survey has identified that "compared with that of equilibrium states, our understanding of states far from equilibrium is in its infancy" and that "on the theory front, there are significant gaps in knowledge, especially in quantum theory". At the same time the problem is "of considerable scientific and technological importance" and "with unforeseeable potential for applications". We shall study exotic quantum orders, bistabilities, pattern formation and other collective phenomena in state-of-the art light-matter systems. An important aspect of our project is to focus on systems, or their features, which in the longer run could lead to potential device applications: from polariton lasers and LEDs, low threshold optical switches, optical transistors, logic gates and finally polariton integrated circuits to quantum computers. Our theoretical analysis will be linked directly to the experiments of our project partners worldwide.

We propose an experimental programme to probe one of the greatest puzzles of modern astrophysics: the generation and amplification of magnetic fields ubiquitously found in the Universe. The aim is to demonstrate amplification of magnetic fields by turbulent dynamo - a great challenge of modern experimental plasma physics. We will also study the distribution of turbulent energy between velocity, magnetic and density fluctuations, providing a comprehensive experimental characterisation of the energy cascade in a turbulent plasma. Magnetic fields are ubiquitously observed in the Universe. Their energy density is comparable to the energy density of the mean plasma flows, so the magnetic fields are essential players in the dynamics of the luminous matter. The total magnetic energy represents a sizable fraction of the cosmic energy budget. What is the origin of these fields? The fact that they are ubiquitous, stochastic and dynamically strong suggests that a universal physical mechanism is at play. The most popular scenario of the cosmic magnetogenesis is that the field grows via some form of turbulent dynamo - fast (exponential) amplification of stochastic field by turbulent motions into which it is embedded, starting from an initial small seed. Understanding magnetogenesis is part of the broader challenge of understanding cosmic turbulence, and the way different form of energies (thermal, turbulent, magnetic) are partitioned on various scales. With the advent of high-power lasers, a new field of research has opened where, using simple scaling relations, astrophysical environments can be reproduced in the laboratory. The similarity is sufficiently close to make such experiments of high interest. Here we propose to establish an experimental platform using laser-produced plasmas where magnetic fields are produced and amplified by turbulence. In the turbulent plasma, small magnetic fields are initially generated by electrical currents resulting from mis-aligned density and temperature gradients - the so-called Biermann battery effect. By then characterizing the properties of such plasmas and the embedded magnetic fields, we intend to show that those tiny fields can be amplified to much larger values, and up to equipartition with the kinetic energy of the turbulent motions. We will use these experiments to measure the magnetic-energy, density and velocity spectra in the turbulent plasma, thus addressing the details of the energy cascade. Thus, our work would establish, for the first time experimentally, the soundness of the theoretical expectation that tiny seeds produced at protogalactic structures (~10^-21 G) can be amplified to observed dynamically significant values (~10^-6 G) in cosmologically short times.

Ancient mass extinctions resulted in the loss of many species but also provided new opportunities for surviving groups. Study of these events is central to both understanding the origin of today's biological diversity as well as contextualizing the threats it faces from environmental change. This work focuses on a major interval of crisis and recovery that took place around 360 million years ago: the Devonian/Carboniferous extinction. This study will determine the impact of this event on the early history of ray-finned fishes, key components of today's aquatic ecosystems and a major commercial resource. The project will provide training at high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels, and develop educational materials for wide audiences, including those underrepresented in STEM fields. Outreach includes a module for high-school students at the University of Michigan, programs at three museums with a combined annual attendance of greater than 500,000, and resources for use in local communities. This work will examine the role of the Devonian/Carboniferous extinction (359 Ma) in precipitating an apparent explosion of diversity among actinopterygians, setting the stage for the group's dominance throughout the remainder of the Phanerozoic. The project will combine microCT, functional anatomy, 3D morphometrics, combined-evidence phylogenetic inference, and evolutionary comparative methods to Devonian and Carboniferous (419-299 Ma) actinopterygians. The project team will: (i) quantify discrete functional innovations, biomechanics, and shape for mandibles to test for increased functional and morphological diversity following a mass extinction; (ii) integrate anatomical, stratigraphic, and molecular data in a Bayesian framework to develop an inclusive hypothesis of early actinopterygian relationships and test hypotheses about the timing of evolutionary divergences and patterns of survival across the extinction boundary; and (iii) combine functional and morphological data with new phylogenetic hypotheses within a comparative framework in to test for shifts in evolutionary rate and mode among actinopterygians associated with the Devonian/Carboniferous extinction.