Instructor: Steven R. Cranmer   (email, web page)
Instructor's Office:   Duane Physics D-111 (campus), SPSC N-218 (research park)
Course Times:     Spring 2018, Mon./Wed./Fri., 9:00-9:50 am
Location: Duane Physics, Room E-126
Office Hours: Duane D-111: By appointment, or drop in.
Syllabus: See the most up-to-date PDF syllabus, 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. The catalog says that a recommended pre-requisite or co-requisite is Radiative and Dynamical Processes (ASTR-5120), but I won't assume that students have taken it.

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. Wed., January 17: Introductory lecture and summary of course syllabus. Begin overview of stellar observations and the H-R Diagram.

  2. Fri., January 19: Continue overview of stellar observations and the H-R Diagram.

  3. Mon., January 22: Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of gases.
    • Lecture notes (01) for kinetic and thermodynamic properties of stellar gases.
    • Supplemental notes on Liouville's theorem and the derivation of the Vlasov equation.

  4. Wed., January 24: Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of gases.

  5. Fri., January 26: Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of gases.

  6. Mon., January 29: Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of gases.

  7. Wed., January 31: Stellar energy sources, including gravitational contraction and the virial theorem.
    • Lecture notes (02) for stellar energy sources (grav contraction, virial theorem, nuclear energy generation).
    • Homework 1 due.

  8. Fri., February 2: Stellar energy sources, including nuclear energy generation.
    • Homework 2 assigned, due Wed., February 14.

  9. Mon., February 5: Stellar energy sources, including nuclear energy generation.

  10. Wed., February 7: Stellar energy sources, including nuclear energy generation.

  11. Fri., February 9: Finish nuclear energy generation. Begin discussion of energy transport from core to surface: radiation and convection.
    • Lecture notes (03) for energy transport (radiation, conduction, convection).

  12. Mon., February 12: Energy transport from core to surface: radiation and convection.

  13. Wed., February 14: Energy transport from core to surface: radiation and convection.
    • Homework 2 due.

  14. Fri., February 16: Energy transport from core to surface: radiation and convection.
    • Homework 3 assigned, due Wed., February 28.

  15. Mon., February 19: Finish convective energy transport.
    • Lecture notes (04) on constructing spherical stellar interiors.

  16. Wed., February 21: Spherical stellar model interiors.

  17. Fri., February 23: Spherical stellar model interiors.

  18. Mon., February 26: Spherical stellar model interiors.

  19. Wed., February 28: Finish spherical stellar model interiors. Begin discussion of non-spherical effects: rotation (maybe tides, dynamos, pulsations).
    • Homework 3 due.
    • Homework 4 assigned, due Wed., March 14.
    • Lecture notes (05) on stellar rotation, dynamos, and tidal distortions.

  20. Fri., March 2: Non-spherical effects: rotation (maybe tides, dynamos, pulsations).
    • Lecture notes (06) on pulsations and asteroseismology (optional).

  21. Mon., March 5: Star formation and pre-main-sequence evolution.
    • Lecture notes (07) on star formation.

  22. Wed., March 7: Star formation and pre-main-sequence evolution.
    • Submit topics/plans for final project.

  23. Fri., March 9: Star formation and pre-main-sequence evolution.

  24. Mon., March 12: Star formation and pre-main-sequence evolution.
    • Lecture notes (08) on pre-main-sequence stellar evolution.

  25. Wed., March 14: Star formation and pre-main-sequence evolution.
    • Homework 4 due.

  26. Fri., March 16: Main-sequence and post-main-sequence evolution.
    • Lecture notes (09) on post-main-sequence evolution and stellar death.

  27. Mon., March 19: Main-sequence and post-main-sequence evolution.

  28. Wed., March 21: Stellar death: supernovae and compact objects.
    • Take-home midterm exam distributed.

  29. Fri., March 23: Stellar death: supernovae and compact objects.
    • Take-home midterm exam due at noon (in person, D111).

        [March 26-30: Spring Break, no classes.]

  30. Mon., April 2: Stellar death: supernovae and compact objects.

  31. Wed., April 4: Stellar death: supernovae and compact objects.
    • Homework 5 assigned, due Mon., April 16.

  32. Fri., April 6: Radiative transfer and stellar atmospheres.
    • Lecture notes (10) on radiative transfer and stellar atmospheres.

  33. Mon., April 9: Radiative transfer and stellar atmospheres.

  34. Wed., April 11: Non-LTE processes and spectral line diagnostics.
    • Lecture notes (11) on non-LTE processes and spectral lines.

  35. Fri., April 13: Non-LTE processes and spectral line diagnostics.

  36. Mon., April 16: Non-LTE processes and spectral line diagnostics.
    • Homework 5 due.

  37. Wed., April 18: Non-LTE processes and spectral line diagnostics.

  38. Fri., April 20: Finish non-LTE processes and spectral line diagnostics. Begin chromospheres and coronal heating.
    • Lecture notes (12) on chromospheres and coronal heating.

  39. Mon., April 23: Chromospheres and coronal heating.

  40. Wed., April 25: Chromospheres and coronal heating.

  41. Fri., April 27: Stellar winds.
    • Lecture notes (13) on stellar winds.

  42. Mon., April 30: Stellar winds.
    • Final project (written component) due.

  43. Wed., May 2: Time reserved for presentations.

        [May 4: Reading Day, May 5-9: Final Exams.]

  44. Mon., May 7: Time reserved for presentations (room & time TBD).

  45. Wed., May 9: Time reserved for presentations (room & time TBD).