ASTROPHYSICS I (Physics 8025)

& INTRODUCTION TO ASTROPHYSICS I (Physics 4025)

Fall 2015 (Revised August 14)

 

Instructor:                   Dr. Michael L. Sitko

Office:                         446 Geology-Physics

Hours:                         MW @10-11, or by appointment

Phone:                         556-0642                                 Email: sitkoml at ucmail.uc.edu

Class Notes:                http://homepages.uc.edu/~sitkoml/Astrophysics-I/AstrophysicsFall15.htm

 

This course is designed to provide a basic foundation in the very broad field of astrophysics. We will spend the first ~5 weeks examining the observed properties of stars and the physics of the interstellar medium. After that, we will look at the nature of galaxies, including our own Milky Way Galaxy, the formation and evolution of these galaxies, active galaxies, the large-scale structure of the universe, cosmology, and the early universe.

 

There are few good books for a complete survey of astrophysics for a 1-quarter class. Astrophysics in a Nutshell by Maoz comes close, but is a bit ÒlightÓ for an entire semester.  Most others are quite longer and more appropriate for a 2-semester sequence.  This is why I provide extensive on-line lecture notes for this class. Copies of the lecture notes (usually PowerPoint files) will be available for downloading from my web site for each lecture.

 

Homework problems based on the lectures and the readings will generally be due 1 week after they are assigned. Graduate students may receive a few ÒextraÓ problems to do compared to the undergraduates. There will be two in-class open-note mid-term exams during normal class hours during the semester. A third exam will also be given on Friday Dec. 12 at 1:30-3:30 PM (during final exam week).

 

I can almost always be reached via email at the above email address or at amazons at fuse.net.

 

I want each of you to send me an email from the account you use regularly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS

(Very Approximate)

 

Week

Subjects

Readings from Maoz

 

 

 

1

Stellar Brightnesses & Masses

Ch. 1 & 2

 

 

 

2

Stellar Spectra & Photometry

 

 

 

 

3

Stellar Structure & Evolution

Sec. 5.1 Ch 3 & 4

 

EXAM 1

 

4

Introduction to the ISM

 

 

 

5

Gas Ionization & Recombination

Sec. 5.2

 

Gas Heating & Cooling

6

Dust & Other Stuff

Sec. 5.3

 

 

7

Stars & Gas in Galaxies

Ch. 6

 

 

8

The Milky Way

 

EXAM 2

9

Galaxy Evolution

 

 

10

Radiation Processes

 

 

Active Galaxies

 

11

Large-Scale Structure

Ch. 7

 

 

 

12

Cosmology

Ch. 8

 

 

 

13

Dark Matter

 

 

The Early Universe

Ch. 9

14

 

 

 

 

 

Ò15Ó

EXAM 3