Instructor: Steven R. Cranmer   (email, web page)
Instructor's Office:   Duane Physics D-111 (campus), SPSC N-218 (research park)
Course Times:     Spring 2016, Mon./Wed./Fri., 9:00-9:50 am
Location: Duane Physics, Room E-126
Office Hours: Duane D-111: TBD
Syllabus: See the most up-to-date PDF version, or also see the one-page course flyer.

Summary

Stars are the basic building blocks of the universe, and they are responsible for the production of most elements via nucleosynthesis. In this course, we will explore the physical principles that govern stellar interiors, evolution, and atmospheres, with the Sun and its heliosphere often being used as the closest and best-studied example of a star. The course will cover energy generation and transport in stars, principles of stellar structure, stellar rotation, pulsation, and evolution up to supernova and compact object stages. The course will also include radiation transport in stellar photospheres, chromospheres, coronas, and winds. We will occasionally touch on topics in planetary astrophysics, especially in areas where the boundary lines between stars, brown dwarfs, and planets become somewhat ambiguous.

This course is an elective for APS graduate students. A definite pre-requisite is senior-level undergraduate physics. A recommended pre-requisite or co-requisite is Radiative and Dynamical Processes (ASTR-5120).

Course Material

This page has links to more information about the textbook(s), example project/paper topics, and other useful resources.

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. Mon., January 11: Introductory lecture. Overview of course syllabus, some general philosophy, and the importance of stars to astronomy. Begin discussion of kinetic and thermodynamic properties of gases.

  2. Wed., January 13: Continue kinetic and thermodynamic properties of gases.
    • Lecture notes for course intro; kinetic & thermodynamic properties.

  3. Fri., January 15: Continue kinetic and thermodynamic properties of gases.

        [Mon., January 18 is MLK Day, no classes.]

  4. Wed., January 20: Continue kinetic and thermodynamic properties of gases.

  5. Fri., January 22: Finish kinetic and thermodynamic properties of gases. Begin discussion of energy sources in stars, including gravitational contraction and the virial theorem.
    • Lecture notes for stellar energy sources (grav contraction, virial theorem, nuclear energy generation)

  6. Mon., January 25: Continue energy sources, including nuclear energy generation.
    • Homework 1 due.
    • Homework 2 assigned, due Fri., February 5.

  7. Wed., January 27: Continue energy sources, including nuclear energy generation.

  8. Fri., January 29: Continue energy sources, including nuclear energy generation.

  9. Mon., February 1: Energy transport from core to surface.
    • Lecture notes for energy transport (radiation, conduction, convection)

  10. Wed., February 3: Energy transport from core to surface.

  11. Fri., February 5: Energy transport from core to surface.
    • Homework 2 due.
    • Homework 3 assigned, due Wed., February 17.

  12. Mon., February 8: Energy transport from core to surface.

  13. Wed., February 10: Spherical stellar model interiors.

  14. Fri., February 12: Spherical stellar model interiors.

  15. Mon., February 15: Spherical stellar model interiors.

  16. Wed., February 17: Non-spherical effects: rotation, tides, dynamos, pulsations.
    • Lecture notes for stellar rotation, dynamos, and tidal forces.
    • Homework 3 due.
    • Homework 4 assigned, due Mon., February 29.

  17. Fri., February 19: Non-spherical effects: rotation, tides, dynamos, pulsations.

  18. Mon., February 22: Non-spherical effects: rotation, tides, dynamos, pulsations.
    • Lecture notes for a special digression on LIGO's detection of gravitational waves!
    • Lecture notes for stellar pulsations and asteroseismology.

  19. Wed., February 24: Non-spherical effects: rotation, tides, dynamos, pulsations.

  20. Fri., February 26: Finish non-spherical effects: rotation, tides, dynamos, pulsations. Begin star formation and pre-main-sequence evolution.

  21. Mon., February 29: Star formation and pre-main-sequence evolution.
    • Homework 4 due.
    • Submit topics/plans for final project.

  22. Wed., March 2: Star formation and pre-main-sequence evolution.

  23. Fri., March 4: Star formation and pre-main-sequence evolution.
    • Lecture notes for pre-main-sequence evolution & accretion disks.

  24. Mon., March 7: Star formation and pre-main-sequence evolution.

  25. Wed., March 9: Main-sequence and post-main-sequence evolution.
    • Lecture notes for post-main-sequence evolution & stellar death.

  26. Fri., March 11: Main-sequence and post-main-sequence evolution.

  27. Mon., March 14: Main-sequence and post-main-sequence evolution.

  28. Wed., March 16: Stellar death; supernovae and compact objects.
    • Take-home midterm exam distributed.

  29. Fri., March 18: Stellar death; supernovae and compact objects.
    • Take-home midterm exam due at noon (in person, D-111).

        [March 21-25: Spring Break, no classes.]

  30. Mon., March 28: Begin radiative transfer and the stellar atmosphere problem.
    • Lecture notes for radiative transfer & basic stellar atmospheres.

  31. Wed., March 30: Radiative transfer and the stellar atmosphere problem.

  32. Fri., April 1: Non-LTE processes and spectral line diagnostics.
    • Lecture notes for non-LTE processes and spectral line diagnostics.

  33. Mon., April 4: Non-LTE processes and spectral line diagnostics.

  34. Wed., April 6: Non-LTE processes and spectral line diagnostics.

  35. Fri., April 8: Non-LTE processes and spectral line diagnostics.

  36. Mon., April 11: Chromospheres and coronal heating.
    • Homework 5 due.
    • Lecture notes for chromospheres and coronal heating.

  37. Wed., April 13: Chromospheres and coronal heating.

  38. Fri., April 15: Chromospheres and coronal heating.

  39. Mon., April 18: Stellar winds.

  40. Wed., April 20: Stellar winds.
    • Final project (written component) due.

  41. Fri., April 22: Stellar winds.

  42. Mon., April 25: Stellar winds and course-wrap-up.

  43. Wed., April 27: Time reserved for in-class presentations.

  44. Fri., April 29: Time reserved for in-class presentations.