The body of Steven Rawlings, a ¡°well respected and liked¡± astrophysicist and member of St Peter¡¯s College, was found at a house in Southmoor, Oxfordshire, on 11 January.

According to media reports, the property is the home of a fellow academic at the university, mathematics lecturer Devinder Sivia, a member of St John¡¯s College.

A 49-year-old man ¨C reported to be Dr Sivia - was arrested on suspicion of murder, but has since been released on police bail.

Detectives have said that the death may be "a matter for a coroner's inquest rather than a criminal court".

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Professor Rawlings, a leading academic in the field of radioastronomy, and Dr Sivia ¨C who are said to be good friends - co-authored a book together entitled the Foundations of Science Mathematics, which was published in 1999.

¡°The entire university community has been profoundly saddened and shocked by the tragic and untimely death of Professor Steve Rawlings. Our thoughts are with his family and friends,¡± vice-chancellor Andrew Hamilton says in a statement.

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Mark Damazer, master of St Peter¡¯s College, where Professor Rawlings was a fellow and tutor in physics, said he had undertaken his undergraduate and doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge, and remained there to do post-doctoral work prior to moving to Oxford.

¡°He was one of the lead scientists in the international Square Kilometre Array project and also played a prominent role in the redevelopment of the Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station in Cornwall as a radio astronomy facility,¡± he said.

¡°He was a much liked and admired tutor and colleague within the college and will be greatly missed. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Linda.¡±

Detective Superintendent Rob Mason, from Thames Valley Police, said: ¡°We are liaising closely with Oxford University and it is apparent that he was well respected and liked within the college and colleagues and students have been devastated by the news.¡±

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simon.baker@tsleducation.com