P463 Astronomy and Astrophysics

Part I: Introduction and Tools

• Tools - astronomical objects, scales, distance ladder, astrometry, magnitude scale
• Gravity - Kepler’s law, Virial theorem
• Radiation physics - radiative flux, transfer function, absorption, scattering and emission, Einstein coefficient, local thermodynamic equilibrium, source function and line formation, concept of opacities

Part II: Stars

• Stars and stellar structures - stellar spectra, HR diagram • Equilibrium in stars
• Star formation and Protostar
• Stellar evolution
• Supernovae
• Black holes and gravitational waves

Part III : Interstellar medium

Part IV: Galaxies

• The Milky way Galaxy - distribution of matter, differential rotation, formation of the spiral arms
• Elliptical and Spiral Galaxies
• Evidence for dark matter
• Active Galaxies - Active Galactic Nuclei, Seyfert Galaxies, Quasars, Blazers

Part V: Magnetic Fields

• Astrophysical phenomena where magnetic fields are critical
• Galactic magnetic fields - dust and synchrotron polarization, Faraday rotation, Zeeman measurements

Part VI: Gravitational Lensing

Part VII: Clusters and Superclusters (optional)

Part VIII: Cosmology (optional)

• Cosmological Observations and the Cosmological Principle
• Newtonian Cosmology and Cosmological Models
• Cosmic Microwave Background