Note:
the timetable is subject to change. Any changes will be posted on Blackboard. Last update: August 27, 2009.
The dates of Exam I,II, and III are tentative. There is no final exam. The project will be graded based on the oral presentation and associated written report.
A note on bibliographic resources concernig required readings: numbers refer to chapters of the textbook (Ostlie and
Carroll's An Introduction to Modern Stellar Astrophysics, second edition); reading assignments from other books (on reserve in the Science and Technology Library) are indicated by the authors' names: Phillips The Physics of Stars; Prialnik Stellar Structure and Evolution. "Notes" indicates that specific bibliographic references will be given in class.; "GPh" indicates a textbook of a calculus based general physics course.
|
Date |
Lecture |
Section |
Topic |
Readings |
|
8/31/09 |
1 |
Introduction |
Introduction to the course: A brief history of the Universe |
Phillips: Ch. 1.1; notes |
|
9/2/09 |
2 |
The Tools of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
Celestial mechanics I: Newton's laws; Kepler's laws |
2.2 - 2.3; GPh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9/4/09 |
3 |
Celestial mechanics II: the virial theorem |
2.4 |
|
|
9/7/09 |
No class today |
|
||
|
9/9/09 |
4 |
The Tools of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
Elements of Astronomy I: distance and luminosity of stars
Electromagnetic radiation: Maxwell's equations |
3.1-3.3; GP |
|
9/11/09 |
5 |
Elements of astronomy II: light, photons, and spectra; blackbody radiation |
3.3-3.6 |
|
|
9/14/09 |
6 |
Elements of astronomy III: the color index; the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram |
8.2; Prialnick 1.1-1.4 |
|
|
9/16/09 |
7 |
Elements of quantum mechanics I: the Bohr's model; the deBroglie wavelength; particle in a box; quantization of energy |
5.1-5.3 |
|
|
9/18/09 |
8 |
Elements of quantum mechanics II: Schrodinger equation, spin, tunneling, Zeeman effect |
5.4 | |
|
9/21/09 |
No class today |
|
||
|
9/23/09 |
9 |
The Tools of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
Exercises |
|
|
9/25/09 |
10 |
Exercises |
|
|
|
9/28/09 |
No class today |
|
||
|
9/30/09 |
11 |
The Tools of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
Elements of statistical physics and thermodynamics I: fundamental thermodynamic variables and relations; the chemical potential |
notes; GPh |
|
10/2/09 |
12 |
Elements of statistical physics and thermodynamics II: the Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics |
Phillips 2.1; notes | |
|
10/5/09 |
13 |
Exercises |
|
|
|
10/7/09 |
15 |
Exam I on Class 1 - 13 material |
||
|
10/9/09 |
16 |
The Tools of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
Elements of statistical physics and thermodynamics III: the classical and quantum gas |
Phillips ; notes |
|
10/12/09 |
17 |
Elements of statistical physics and thermodynamics IV: non-relativistic and ultra-relativistic gas; exercises |
Phillips 2.1 |
|
|
10/14/09 |
18 |
Statistical physics applied to stars I: photon gas |
Phillips 2.2-2.3; notes |
|
|
10/16/09 |
19 |
Statistical physics applied to stars II: stellar atmospheres; Saha's equation; exercises |
8.1; Phillips 2.2-2.4 |
|
|
10/19/09 |
20 |
The Interstellar Medium |
The Interstellar Medium I |
6 - all; 12.1-12.2 |
|
10/21/09 |
21 |
The Interstellar Medium II |
6-all; 12.1.-12.2 |
|
|
10/23/09 |
22 |
Star Formation and Structure |
From protostar to star |
12.2-12.3 |
|
10/26/09 |
23 |
Star formation and stellar structure I: hydrostatic equilibrium; equations of stellar structure |
10.1-10.2; Prialnick 2- all |
|
|
10/28/09 |
24 |
Stellar structure: equations of stellar structure |
Prialnick 2- all;Prialnik 5.1-5.4 |
|
|
10/30/09 |
25 |
Energy sources I: nuclear processes |
10.3; Prialnik 4-all |
|
|
11/2/09 |
26 |
Energy sources II: reactions |
10.3; Prialnik 4-all; Phillips 4-all |
|
|
11/4/09 |
27 |
Exercises |
||
|
11/6/09 |
28 |
Exam II on Class 16 - 27 material |
||
|
11/9/09 |
29 |
Star Formation and Structure |
Energy transport in stars I |
Phillips 3- all; 10.4-10.5 |
|
11/11/09 |
30 |
Energy transport in stars II
|
Phillips 3- all; 10.4-10.5 |
|
|
11/13/09 |
31 |
Star Evolution |
To main sequence |
Prialnik 10-all; Prialnik8.1-8.3 |
|
11/16/09 |
32 |
Red giant phase |
13.1-13.2; Prialnik 8.4-8.7 |
|
|
11/18/09 |
33 |
From main sequence star to white dwarf |
16.1-16.5; Phillips 6.1 |
|
|
11/20/09 |
34 |
Exercises |
||
|
11/23/09 |
35 |
Evolution of a massive star |
15 -all; Phillips 6.2 |
|
|
11/30/09 |
36 |
Neutron stars, pulsars and black holes |
16.6-16.7; 17.3; Phillips 6.3-6.4 |
|
|
12/2/09 |
29 |
Exam III (comprehensive) |
||
|
12/4/09 |
29 |
Presentation of Research Projects |
Projects presentations |
|
|
12/7/09 |
29 |
Projects presentations |
||
|
12/9/09 |
29 |
Projects presentations |
||
|
12/11/09 |
29 |
Projects presentations |
||
|
12/14/09 |
29 |
Projects presentations |