Instructor: Steven R. Cranmer   (email, web page)
Instructor's Office:   Duane Physics D-111 (campus), SPSC N-218 (research park)
Course Times:     Spring 2017, Mon., Wed., Fri., 9:00-9:50 am
Location: Duane Physics, Room G-131
Office Hours: Duane D-111: Mondays & Fridays 10:00-11:00, or by appointment
Syllabus: See the most up-to-date PDF version.

Summary

We live in the extended atmosphere of a magnetic variable star. Solar radiation enables and sustains life, but the Sun also produces streams of high energy particles and radiation that can be harmful to people and their technology. In this course we will explore the physical processes that link the Sun to the planets, and we will learn about the behavior of the tenuous, magnetized plasma that fills the rest of the solar system. Topics discussed in this course will include some basic plasma physics, the solar interior and atmosphere, the solar wind and coronal mass ejections, planetary magnetospheres, and space weather. Roughly half of the course can be considered "the Sun as an example of stellar astrophysics," and the other half is "Space plasma physics for astronomers."

This course is an elective for the APS undergraduate major and minor. Pre-requisite (or co-requisite) courses include Modern Physics (PHYS-2130 or PHYS-2170), and Calculus 3 (MATH-2400 or APPM-2350). A recommended, but not required, pre-requisite is Electricity & Magnetism (PHYS-3310).

Course Material

This page will have links to more information about additional sources of reading material.
This page has additional information about this course's final project/paper, including deadlines and example topics.

Lectures

Below is a detailed schedule that will list the material to be covered in each class session, links to electronic copies of any handouts and problem sets, and various course deadlines.

  1. Wed., January 18: Introduction to the course. Overview of the Sun and heliosphere.

  2. Fri., January 20: Review of energy units; summary of how energy changes form in the solar system.
    • Homework 1 assigned, due Fri., February 3.
    • Lecture notes (01) for the review of energy topics, vector calculus, and E&M.

  3. Mon., January 23: Review of vector calculus and E&M.

  4. Wed., January 25: Review of vector calculus and E&M.

  5. Fri., January 27: Survey of the various ways that we observe the Sun.
    • Lecture notes (02) for the survey of observations and measurements (slides).

  6. Mon., January 30: Survey of the various ways that we observe the Sun.

  7. Wed., February 1: Magnetized plasmas: Kinetic theory & thermodynamics.
    • Lecture notes (03) for magnetized plasmas: kinetic theory & velocity distributions.
    • Handout B: background reading on kinetic theory & velocity distributions.

  8. Fri., February 3: Magnetized plasmas: Kinetic theory & thermodynamics.
    • Homework 1 due.
    • Homework 2 assigned, due Fri., February 17.

  9. Mon., February 6: Magnetized plasmas: Kinetic theory & thermodynamics.

  10. Wed., February 8: Movie day at Fiske Planetarium: "Solar Superstorms" & more!

  11. Fri., February 10: Magnetized plasmas: Behavior of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluids.
    • Lecture notes (04) on fluid conservation equations and MHD.
    • Handout C: background reading on MHD.

  12. Mon., February 13: Magnetized plasmas: Behavior of MHD fluids.

  13. Wed., February 15: Magnetized plasmas: Behavior of MHD fluids.

  14. Fri., February 17: Solar interior: Total energy of a star.
    • Homework 2 due.
    • Homework 3 assigned, due Fri., March 3.
    • Lecture notes (05) on stellar energy content & nuclear energy generation.

  15. Mon., February 20: Solar interior: Nuclear energy generation.
    • Handout D: background reading on the solar interior.

  16. Wed., February 22: Solar interior: Nuclear energy generation.

  17. Fri., February 24: Solar interior: Radiative & convective energy transport.
    • Lecture notes (06) on radiative & convective energy transport.

  18. Mon., February 27: Solar interior: Radiative & convective energy transport.

  19. Wed., March 1: Solar interior: Radiative & convective energy transport.

  20. Fri., March 3: Solar interior: Helioseismology & the solar dynamo.
    • Homework 3 due.
    • Homework 4 assigned, due Fri., March 17.
    • Lecture notes (07) on helioseismology and the solar dynamo.

  21. Mon., March 6: Solar interior: Helioseismology & the solar dynamo.

  22. Wed., March 8: Solar atmosphere: Photosphere (emergent visible radiation).
    • Lecture notes (08) on the solar photosphere & radiation flow through atmospheres.
    • Handout E: background reading on the solar atmosphere and magnetic field.

  23. Fri., March 10: Solar atmosphere: Photosphere (emergent visible radiation).

  24. Mon., March 13: Solar atmosphere: Photosphere (emergent visible radiation).

  25. Wed., March 15: Aside: How does solar radiation heat Earth & other planets?

  26. Fri., March 17: Solar atmosphere: Sun's magnetic field (granulation, sunspots).
    • Homework 4 due.
    • Lecture notes (09) on the Sun's magnetic field.

  27. Mon., March 20: In-class review for midterm exam.
    • Midterm Exam Review Sheet

  28. Wed., March 22: Midterm exam (in class).

  29. Fri., March 24: Solar atmosphere: Sun's magnetic field (granulation, sunspots).

        [March 27-31: Spring Break, no classes.]

  30. Mon., April 3: Solar atmosphere: Sun's magnetic field (granulation, sunspots).

  31. Wed., April 5: Solar activity: Chromospheric and coronal heating.
    • Guest lecturer this week: Alicia Aarnio
    • Lecture notes (10) on chromospheric and coronal heating.
    • Handout F: background reading on the solar corona.

  32. Fri., April 7: Solar activity: Chromospheric and coronal heating.
    • Homework 5 assigned, due Mon., April 24.

  33. Mon., April 10: Solar activity: Chromospheric and coronal heating.

  34. Wed., April 12: Solar activity: The solar wind and heliosphere.
    • Lecture notes (11) on the solar wind and heliosphere.

  35. Fri., April 14: Solar activity: The solar wind and heliosphere.

  36. Mon., April 17: Solar activity: The solar wind and heliosphere.

  37. Wed., April 19: Space physics: Coronal mass ejections & outer heliosphere.
    • Lecture notes (12) on the outer heliosphere & CMEs/flares.

  38. Fri., April 21: Space physics: Coronal mass ejections & outer heliosphere.

  39. Mon., April 24: Space physics: Coronal mass ejections & outer heliosphere.
    • Homework 5 due.

  40. Wed., April 26: Space physics: Coronal mass ejections & outer heliosphere.

  41. Fri., April 28: Space physics: Magnetospheres & single particle motions.
    • Lecture notes (13) on magnetospheres, ionospheres, and space weather.

  42. Mon., May 1: Space physics: Magnetospheres & single particle motions.

  43. Wed., May 3: Space physics: Ionospheres & space weather.
    • Two handouts for background reading on space weather: Handout X (Baker) and Handout Y (Schrijver & Odenwald).

  44. Fri., May 5: Space physics: Ionospheres & space weather. Course wrap-up.
    • Final projects/papers due.