Instructor: Steven R. Cranmer   (email, web page)
Instructor's Office:   Duane Physics D-111 (campus), SPSC N-218 (research park)
Course Times:     Spring 2015, Mon., Wed., Fri., 11:00-11:50 am
Location: Duane Physics, Room G-131
Office Hours: Duane D-111: Wed. 10:00-11:00, Fri. 12:00-1:00, 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 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 12: Introduction to the course. Overview of the Sun and heliosphere.

  2. Wed., January 14: Review of energy units; summary of how energy changes form in the solar system.

  3. Fri., January 16: Review of vector calculus, E&M.

        [Mon., January 19 is MLK Day, no classes.]

  4. Wed., January 21: Review of vector calculus, E&M.

  5. Fri., January 23: Review of vector calculus, E&M.

  6. Mon., January 26: Magnetized plasmas: Kinetic theory & thermodynamics.

  7. Wed., January 28: Magnetized plasmas: Kinetic theory & thermodynamics.

  8. Fri., January 30: Magnetized plasmas: Kinetic theory & thermodynamics.

  9. Mon., February 2: Magnetized plasmas: Behavior of MHD fluids.

  10. Wed., February 4: Magnetized plasmas: Behavior of MHD fluids.

  11. Fri., February 6: Magnetized plasmas: Behavior of MHD fluids.

  12. Mon., February 9: "Solar Max" movie(s) about the Sun, solar activity, and the heliosphere.

  13. Wed., February 11: Finish discussing MHD fluids. Begin Solar interior & atmosphere: Total stellar energy content.

  14. Fri., February 13: Solar interior & atmosphere: Total stellar energy content.

  15. Mon., February 16: Solar interior & atmosphere: Nuclear energy generation.

  16. Wed., February 18: Solar interior & atmosphere: Nuclear energy generation.

  17. Fri., February 20: Solar interior & atmosphere: Nuclear energy generation.
    • Lecture notes for stellar energy content & nuclear energy generation.

  18. Mon., February 23: Solar interior & atmosphere: Radiative & convective energy transport.

  19. Wed., February 25: Solar interior & atmosphere: Radiative & convective energy transport.

  20. Fri., February 27: Solar interior & atmosphere: Radiative & convective energy transport.
    • Finalize topics for term paper/project (email or in person)
    • Homework 3 due.
    • Homework 4 assigned, due Wed., March 11.

  21. Mon., March 2: Solar interior & atmosphere: Radiative & convective energy transport.
    • Lecture notes for energy transport by radiation, conduction, and convection.

  22. Wed., March 4: Solar interior & atmosphere: Helioseismology & solar dynamo.

  23. Fri., March 6: Solar interior & atmosphere: Helioseismology & solar dynamo.

  24. Mon., March 9: Solar interior & atmosphere: Helioseismology & solar dynamo.

  25. Wed., March 11: Solar interior & atmosphere: Photosphere (emergent radiation).
    • Homework 4 due.
    • Homework: begin reviewing for Midterm exam.

  26. Fri., March 13: In-class review for midterm exam.

  27. Mon., March 16: Solar interior & atmosphere: Photosphere (emergent radiation).

  28. Wed., March 18: Midterm exam (in class).

  29. Fri., March 20: Solar interior & atmosphere: Photosphere (emergent radiation).

        [March 23-27: Spring Break, no classes.]

  30. Mon., March 30: Solar activity: The Sun's magnetic field (granulation, sunspots).

  31. Wed., April 1: Solar activity: The Sun's magnetic field (granulation, sunspots).
    • This week: have "raw materials" for term paper/project assembled

  32. Fri., April 3: Solar activity: The Sun's magnetic field (exterior).

  33. Mon., April 6: Solar activity: Finish Sun's magnetic field (exterior); begin discussion of chromospheric and coronal heating.

  34. Wed., April 8: Solar activity: Chromospheric and coronal heating.

  35. Fri., April 10: Solar activity: Chromospheric and coronal heating.

  36. Mon., April 13: Solar activity: The solar wind & heliosphere.

  37. Wed., April 15: Solar activity: The solar wind & heliosphere.

  38. Fri., April 17: Solar activity: Finish solar wind & heliosphere.
    • Lecture notes for the solar wind and heliospheric magnetic field.

  39. Mon., April 20: Solar activity: Outer heliosphere & coronal mass ejections.

  40. Wed., April 22: Solar activity: Coronal mass ejections.

  41. Fri., April 24: Sun-planet interactions: Magnetospheres & single particle motions.

  42. Mon., April 27: Sun-planet interactions: Magnetospheres & single particle motions.

  43. Wed., April 29: Sun-planet interactions: Ionospheres & space weather.
    • Term projects/papers due.
    • Lecture notes for Sun-planet interactions (magnetosphere & ionosphere).

  44. Fri., May 1: Course wrap-up; discussion of current research trends and growth areas.