Research

Using photometric data from Gaia and Pan-STARRS and spectroscopic data from the X-shooter instrument on the Very Large Telescope (VLT), I am utilising the local population of white dwarfs to calibrate stellar ages in our galactic neighbourhood.

Specifically, I use advanced white dwarf model atmosphere codes to determine the atmospheric parameters and chemical composition of metal polluted ultra-cool white dwarfs. Very cool white dwarfs tend to be stellar remnants of some of the oldest stars in the Milky Way, so the ones polluted by metals allow us to investigate the remains of their old orbiting planetary systems.

We have recently discovered two ultra-cool metal-polluted white dwarfs [Artist's impression credit: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick]. One white dwarf is unusually blue and was likely polluted by planetary debris of a similar composition to the Earth’s continental crust. The other white dwarf is very red, faint and is the oldest metal-polluted white dwarf in our Galaxy known to date, as it formed over 10 billion years ago. The accretion of debris from orbiting planetesimals offers an exciting opportunity to research old planetary systems in our Galaxy, as this provides information on the formation and evolution of stars, planets and moons in the Milky Way. Various press releases covered this work, including from the University of WarwickLink opens in a new window and dozens of national and international news outlets.

Publications

First author papers:

1) Elms, A. K., et al. 2022, MNRAS, 517, 4557

Spectral analysis of ultra-cool white dwarfs polluted by planetary debrisLink opens in a new window

2) Elms, A. K., et al. 2023, MNRAS, 524, 4996

An emerging and enigmatic spectral class of isolated DAe white dwarfsLink opens in a new window

3) Elms, A. K., et al. 2024, MNRAS, 534, 2758

A network of cooler white dwarfs as infrared standards for flux calibrationLink opens in a new window

Co-author papers:

Other Research Interests

I am also interested in galaxies, black holes and general relativity. For my master's research project, I identified all dwarf galaxies in SDSS MaNGA data and determined which of them likely host an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Then, I discovered each dwarf galaxy's local environment to see if there is a correlation between this and hosting an AGN.

Teaching

For the academic years 2021/22 - 2024/25, I was employed as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant and fulfilled the role of laboratory demonstrator for the first-year undergraduate physics module PX152 Physics Laboratory. Responsibilities involved: guiding students through dozens of different laboratory experiments and practicals; helping everyone to understand the physics and maths problem questions that must be answered to complete the lab; ensuring everyone in my group were following the correct safety procedures; and marking the student's laboratory books at the end of the session, then providing verbal feedback on how they performed during the experiment.

For the academic years 2021/22 - 2024/25, I was also employed as an Exam Invigilator for the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick.

I worked as a secondary school Teach Physics intern for the Ogden Trust in the summers of 2019 and 2021.

Outreach and Other Interests

During my four years at the University of Portsmouth, I was part of the Physics Society and was President in my second year (2018/19) which I used to promote diversity and inclusivity in physics. I was also an Outreach Demonstrator for the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, where I regularly performed physics experiments and fun STEM activities to primary and secondary school students to generate enthusiasm for science.

In addition to my interest in physics, I have played competitive netball for 17 years at club, university and county level.

Write to:

Abbigail Elms,

Department of Physics,

University of Warwick,

Coventry CV4 7AL

UK

Contact details:

E-mail: Abbigail.Elms[at]warwick.ac.uk

Office: A1.24 (Millburn House)