Instructor: Steven R. Cranmer   (email, web page)
Instructor's Office:   Duane Physics D111 (main campus), LASP/SPSC N218 (east campus)
Course Times:     Spring 2024, Mon./Wed./Fri., 9:05-9:55 am
Location: Duane Physics, Room E126
Office Hours: Fridays, 10:30-11:30 am, Duane D111 (most weeks)
Syllabus: See the most up-to-date PDF version.

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 atmospheres, and (if there is time) the physics of chromospheres, coronas, and winds. We will occasionally touch on topics in planetary science, 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. Strongly recommended pre-requisites include upper-level undergraduate astrophysics and E&M. 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

The primary "required readings" are my lecture notes, which will be posted below on this page (and on Canvas) as the semester progresses. Other resources for this course include:

Schedule

Below is a detailed schedule that will list the material 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; syllabus summary. Begin overview of stellar observations and the H-R Diagram.
    • Homework 1 (problem set) assigned, due Wed., January 31.

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

  3. Mon., January 22: Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of gases.

  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.
    • Homework 1 due.
    • Homework 2 (problem set) assigned, due Wed., February 14.

  8. Fri., February 2: Stellar energy sources, including nuclear energy generation.

  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: Stellar energy sources, including nuclear energy generation.

  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.
    • Homework 3 (problem set) assigned, due Fri., March 1.

  14. Fri., February 16: Energy transport from core to surface: radiation and convection.

  15. Mon., February 19: Energy transport from core to surface: radiation and convection.

  16. Wed., February 21: Energy transport from core to surface: radiation and convection.

  17. Fri., February 23: Energy transport from core to surface: radiation and convection.

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

  19. Wed., February 28: Spherical stellar model interiors.

  20. Fri., March 1: Spherical stellar model interiors.
    • Homework 3 due.
    • Take-Home Midterm Exam assigned (see Canvas), due Fri., March 8.

  21. Mon., March 4: Non-spherical effects: rotation (maybe tides, dynamos, pulsations).

  22. Wed., March 6: Non-spherical effects: rotation (maybe tides, dynamos, pulsations).

  23. Fri., March 8: Star formation and the interstellar medium.
    • Take-Home Midterm Exam due.
    • Homework 4 (problem set) assigned, due Fri., March 22.

  24. Mon., March 11: Star formation and the interstellar medium.

  25. Wed., March 13: Star formation and the interstellar medium.

  26. Fri., March 15: Star formation and the interstellar medium.

  27. Mon., March 18: Pre-main-sequence stellar evolution.

  28. Wed., March 20: Pre-main-sequence stellar evolution.

  29. Fri., March 22: Pre-main-sequence stellar evolution.
    • Homework 4 due.

    [March 25-29: Spring Break; no classes.]

  30. Mon., April 1: Main-sequence and post-main-sequence stellar evolution.

  31. Wed., April 3: Main-sequence and post-main-sequence stellar evolution.

  32. Fri., April 5: Main-sequence and post-main-sequence stellar evolution.

  33. Mon., April 8: Main-sequence and post-main-sequence stellar evolution.
    • In-person class cancelled: Go see the total solar eclipse if you can!
    • I'll provide a pre-recorded lecture for this day.

  34. Wed., April 10: Stellar death: supernovae and compact objects.

  35. Fri., April 12: Stellar death: supernovae and compact objects.

  36. Mon., April 15: Stellar death: supernovae and compact objects.

  37. Wed., April 17: Stellar death: supernovae and compact objects.

  38. Fri., April 19: Radiative transfer and stellar atmospheres.

  39. Mon., April 22: Radiative transfer and stellar atmospheres.

  40. Wed., April 24: Non-LTE processes in stellar atmospheres and spectral lines.

  41. Fri., April 26: Brief overview of stellar winds and mass loss.

  42. Mon., April 29: Time reserved for final presentations and/or project collaborations.

  43. Wed., May 1: Time reserved for final presentations and/or project collaborations.

    [Fri., May 3: Reading Day. Final Exam Week: May 4 to May 8.]

    Due date for final project papers: TBD.