Part one of Physics of
the Universe is on STELLAR ASTROPHYSICS:
Aims of course:
The course aims to give 1st
year students in physics and astrophysics an elementary
introduction and overview of modern ideas in stellar astrophysics (part
one)
and cosmology (part two).
Objectives:
On completion of the course
the student should be able to:
a)
Discuss the
relationship between a body's effective temperature
and its emergent radiation field, in terms of colour
and intensity
b)
explain how colour and
intensity are expressed in magnitudes
c)
describe the
factors which control the thermal environment throughout the solar system
d)
explain the processes by
which energy is generated in stars, and how these
processes depend on stellar age and mass
e)
discuss the role of
neutrinos and other elementary particles in
astrophysics
f)
startreview the observational
and theoretical properties of black holes as
endpoints of stellar evolution and as constituents
of galaxies
Suitable reference texts:
“Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics
(4th edition)” Michael Zeilik and Stephen A. Gregory, (Thomson Learning, ISBN 0030062284)
“Universe" (8th edition)” Roger A.
Freedman,William J. Kaufmann III (
Syllabus: Stellar
Astrophysics
a)
Radiation:
Planck, Stefan-Boltzmann, and Wien Laws; stellar
luminosity, effective temperature.
b)
Atomic structure: stellar
spectra;
c)
Stellar
classification, H-R diagram, magnitude scales,
interstellar reddening.
d)
Energy
generation. Nuclear fusion, solar neutrinos;
e)
Stellar evolution.
f)
End points
of stellar evolution: white dwarfs, neutron stars
(pulsars), stellar-mass black holes