Courses:

Modern Astrophysics >> Content Detail



Syllabus



Syllabus

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Course Description


This course explores the applications of physics (Newtonian, statistical, and quantum mechanics) to fundamental processes that occur in celestial objects. The list of topics includes Main-sequence Stars, Collapsed Stars (White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes), Pulsars, Supernovae, the Interstellar Medium, Galaxies, and as time permits, Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Cosmology. Observational data is also discussed.



Prerequisites


Students must have previously completed Quantum Physics I (8.04) and Quantum Physics II (8.05) with a grade of C or higher. No prior knowledge of astronomy is required.



Textbooks


There is no single text for this course. All of the assigned readings come from the following texts:

Amazon logo Bohm-Vitense, Erika. Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics. 3 vols. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1989. ISBN: 9780521344029.

Amazon logo Binney, James, and Scott Tremaine. Galactic Dynamics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1987. ISBN: 9780691084442.

Amazon logo Clayton, Donald D. Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1983. ISBN: 9780226109534.

Amazon logo Hansen, Carl J., and Steven D. Kawaler. Stellar Interiors: Physical Principles, Structure, and Evolution. New York, NY: Springer, 2004. ISBN: 9780387200897.

Amazon logo Mihalas, Dimitri, and James Binney. Galactic Astronomy. San Francisco, CA: W.H. Freeman, 1981, chapter 2. ISBN: 9780716712800.

Press, William H. Introduction to Astrophysics

Amazon logo Shu, Frank H. The Physical Universe. Mill Valley, CA: University Science Books, 1982. ISBN: 9780935702057.

Schechter, Paul. 8.902 Notes on Cosmology (PDF)#

Although these are not part of the required readings, students may also find the following books useful:

Amazon logo Binney, James, and Michael Merrifield. Galactic Astronomy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1998. ISBN: 9780691004020.

Amazon logo Gray, David F. The Observation and Analysis of Stellar Photospheres. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN: 9780521851862.

Amazon logo Harwit, Martin. Astrophysical Concepts. New York, NY: Springer, 1998. ISBN: 9780387949437.

Amazon logo Longair, Malcolm S. Galaxy Formation. New York, NY: Springer, 1998. ISBN: 9783540637851.

Amazon logo Osterbrock, Donald E. The Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae and Active Galactic Nuclei. Sausalito, CA: University Science Books, 2006. ISBN: 9781891389344.

Amazon logo Ostlie, Dale A., and Bradley W. Carroll. An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1996. ISBN: 9780201547306.

Amazon logo Peebles, P. J. E. Physical Cosmology. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1971. ISBN: 9780691081083.

Amazon logo ———. Principles of Physical Cosmology. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993. ISBN: 9780691074283.

Amazon logo Schwarzschild, Martin. Structure and Evolution of the Stars. New York, NY: Dover Publications, 1977. ISBN: 9780486614793.

Amazon logo ———. The Physics of Astrophysics. 2 vols. Mill Valley, CA: University Science Books, 1991. ISBN: 9780935702644.

Amazon logo Silk, Joseph. The Big Bang. New York, NY: W.H. Freeman, 2001. ISBN: 9780716742463.

Amazon logo Spitzer, Lyman. Physical Processes in the Interstellar Medium. New York, NY: Wiley, 1978. ISBN: 9780471022329.

Amazon logo Unsold, Albrecht. The New Cosmos. New York, NY: Springer, 2001. ISBN: 9783540678779.

Amazon logo Weinberg, Steven. The First Three Minutes. New York, NY: Basic Books, 1993. ISBN: 9780465024377.

Amazon logo ———. Gravitation and Cosmology. New York, NY: Wiley, 1972. ISBN: 9780471925675.



Problem Sets


There are 11 problem sets. Approximately one set is due per week. Solutions will be provided four days after the due date.



Exams


There will be one in-class midterm exam. There will also be a comprehensive final exam, scheduled by the Registrar and held during the final exam period.



Grading Policy



ACTIVITIESPERCENTAGES
Midterm exam20%
Problem sets40%
Final exam40%



Calendar



SES #TOPICSKEY DATES
1

Introduction

Equatorial coordinates and sidereal time

2

Galactic coordinates

Distances to stars

3Magnitudes (apparent and absolute) and color indicesProblem set 1 due
4

Spectral classification

The Kepler problem

5Parametric solution to Kepler
6

Masses of stars

Mass radius relation

7Mass measurements for exoplanets and our black holeProblem set 2 due
8Telescopes
9Polytropic stars
10

Classical and quantum statistics

The Saha equation

11

Equations of state

Application of Lane-Emden solution: White dwarfs

Problem set 3 due
12Simple results for the sun and other stars
13Radiative transport
14

Opacities

Scaling laws

Convection

Problem set 4 due
15

Energy generation

Coulomb penetration factor

16Nuclear "burning" in the sun and other stars
17Evolution of stars of low, intermediate and high massProblem set 5 due
18Stellar atmospheres
19Lines in stellar atmospheres
20In-class examProblem set 6 due
21Introduction to the interstellar medium
22Photoionized nebulae (H II regions and planetaries)
23Supernovae and shocks
24Adiabatic supernova shocksProblem set 7 due
25Galaxy morphology
26

Quantifiable properties of galaxies

Collisional relaxation times

27Collisionless Boltzmann equation (cartesian) and its momentsProblem set 8 due
28Boltzmann and the 4 jeans equations (spherical)
29Galaxy disks: Rotation and epicyclic motion
30Galaxy models: Potentials, orbits, and distribution functionsProblem set 9 due
31Clusters of galaxies
32

Evidence for the expansion and homegeneity of the universe

Newtonian derivation of Friedmann universe

33Galaxy formationProblem set 10 due
34Friedman-Robertson-Walker metric
35Friedman equation with radiation and other stuff
36Supernovae and cosmic accelerationProblem set 11 due
37Recombination and helium production
38Fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background
Final exam

 








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