Personal profile
Research interests
I am an astrophysicist working in the Centre for Astrophysics Research (CAR) at the University of Hertfordshire. My main research interests are related to active galactic nuclei (AGN) - very bright regions at the centre of some galaxies that are thought to be associated with the supermassive black holes that live there. My current focus is on the properties of AGN that are detected at radio wavelengths, and I am involved in the LOFAR radio astronomy collabration and the Radio Galaxy Zoo: LOFAR project. I was awarded my PhD at The University of Sheffield in 2021 for investigating the properties of a particular type of these active radio galaxies (thesis title: "The optical morphologies and radio properties of HERGs with intermediate radio powers"), where I also obtained my Masters degree in Physics and Astronomy. I am also interested in the importance of galaxy interactions and collisions for triggering AGN.
Education/Academic qualification
Astronomy, PhD, The optical morphologies and radio properties of HERGs with intermediate radio powers, HEI: University of Sheffield
Jan 2017 → Dec 2020
Award Date: 13 Jul 2021
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Research output
- 9 Article
-
The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey: VII. Third Data Release
Shimwell, T. W., Hardcastle, M. J., Tasse, C., Drabent, A., Botteon, A., Williams, W. L., Best, P. N., Röttgering, H. J. A., Brüggen, M., Brunetti, G., Callingham, J. R., Chyży, K. T., Conway, J. E., Gasperin, F. D., Haverkorn, M., Horellou, C., Jackson, N., Miley, G. K., Morabito, L. K. & Morganti, R. & 82 others, , 17 Feb 2026, In: Astronomy & Astrophysics.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Unified models revisited I: modelling the effect of source geometry on radio galaxy/quasar unification
Pinjarkar, S., Hardcastle, M. J., Pierce, J. C. S. & Sweijen, F., 31 Dec 2025, In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 544, 3, p. 2665-2674 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
The low-frequency size distribution of radio sources in the Lockman Hole
Sweijen, F., Pierce, J. C. S., Hardcastle, M. J., Croston, J. H., Morabito, L. K., Bondi, M., Callingham, J. R., Jurlin, N., Prandoni, I., Rottgering, H. J. A. & van Weeren, R. J., 30 Jun 2025, In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 540, 1, p. 416-432 17 p., staf630.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile16 Downloads (Pure) -
The nature of HERGs and LERGs in LoTSS DR2 $-$ a morphological perspective
Chilufya, J., Hardcastle, M. J., Pierce, J. C. S., Drake, A. B., Baldi, R. D., Röttgering, H. J. A. & Smith, D. J. B., 31 May 2025, In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS). 539, 1, 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile40 Downloads (Pure) -
Radio AGN selection in LoTSS DR2
Hardcastle, M. J., Pierce, J. C. S., Duncan, K. J., Gürkan, G., Gong, Y., Horton, M. A., Mingo, B., Röttgering, H. J. A. & Smith, D. J. B., 1 May 2025, In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS). 539, 2, p. 1856–1878 23 p., staf622.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Citations (Scopus)10 Downloads (Pure)