Modern Astrophysics


course ID

Lecturer

CFU

6

Length

14 Weeks

Semester DD

Second


Course details
1 Introduction
1.1 Stellar parallaxes and astrometry
1.2 Magnitude scales and color indices
1.3 Emission and absorption lines
1.4 Cosmic abundances and solar mixture


2 Solar System and Extrasolar planets

2.1 Terrestrial and Giant planets

2.2 Minor bodies of the solar system

2.3 Identification and characterization of extrasolar planets

2.4 Planetary system formation and evolution


3 Stellar Atmospheres

3.1 Spectral classification and Hertzsprung Russell diagram

3.2 Equation of state

3.3 Stellar opacities

3.4 Radiative transfer


4 Stellar interiors

4.1 Momentum and mass conservation equations

4.2 Energy conservation equation

4.3 Energy transport equations

4.4 The sun as a star

4.5 Main sequence and post main sequence evolution

4.6 Stellar pulsation

4.7 Compact objects: white dwarfs and neutron stars

5 The Milky Way

5.1 Stellar populations

5.2 Stellar systems

5.3 Galactic spheroid: Halo, Bulge, Disk

5.4 Galactic center

6 The Nature of Galaxies

6.1 Hubble sequence

6.2 Spirals, irregulars and ellipticals

6.3 Dwarf galaxies

6.4 Formation and interaction of galaxies

6.5 Cluster of galaxies

6.6 The extragalactic distance scale

6.7 The expansion of the Universe


7 Cosmology

7.1 Newtonian cosmology

7.2 The cosmic microwave background

7.3 The Sunyaev Zeldovich effect

7.4 Observational cosmology

7.5 The very early Universe

7.6 Big Bang nucleosynthesis

7.7 Origin of structures

Objectives

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The master is aimed at providing an advanced preparation on Physics, with a detailed knowledge of the key topics in the recent research in Astrophysics. The learning outcomes rely on a detailed knowledge of quantum mechanics and solid state physics. The main objective of the course in Stellar Astrophysics is to provide to the student the knowledge of the basic physics required to understand the formation and evolution of stellar structures. This knowledge is fundamental to understand not only the evolution of the baryonic content of the Universe, but also to trace its chemical evolution. These concepts are a stepping stone not only for the students interested in understanding the local Universe, but also for those interested in the large scale structure of the Universe in cosmological models and in compact objects (stellar mass black holes, neutron stars, white dwarfs).


KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The student at the end of the semester will acquire a detailed knowledge on the energy
conservation equations (momentum, mass, energy) of stellar interiors and of the trasnport
equation (radiation, conduction, convection). Moreover, the student will acquire solid
knowledge on micro (equation of state, opacity, electron degeneracy, nuclear reactions)
and macro (rotation, mass loss, convective transport, chemical evolution) physics driving
the formation and the evolution of stellar structures. This knowledge will allow the students
to fully understand the hydrogen-, helium-burning and advanced evolutionary phases for low-, intermediate- and massive stars. The sudent will be able to fully exploit the fundamental plane for stars (Hertzsprung Russell diagram) to trace the different evolutionary phases and its use to understand resolved stellar populations.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The student at the end of the semester will acquire the knowledge of stellar evolution physics to attack and solve a broad range of stellar astrophysical problems. To be more specific, the student will be able to estimate the absolute and relative age of globular clusters, to estimate the chemical abundances (primordial helium, metallicity) and to measure cosmic distances by using primary distance indicators. Moreover, the student will have a detailed knowledge of the impact that intrinsic and systematic errors affect the estimate of astrophysical and cosmological parameters.


MAKING JUDGEMENTS:
The students will take an oral exam aimed at verify the knowledge of stellar evolution
physics together with a written report concerning a specific project. The written report
can be done either individually or in small groups. To undertake the project, the students
are requested to perform several critical choices concerning the empirical data (Gaia,
Hubble Space Telescope, ground based telescopes) and the theoretical predictions
(stellar isochrones, luminosity functions, synthetic color-mgnitude diagrams) available
on the web. Moreover, the students, in dealing with the comparison between theory and
observations, will acquire a substantial critical judgement concerning empirical and
theoretical uncertainties affecting the estimate of astrophysical/cosmological parameters
and in turn, on the strategic and methodological choices to undertake the project.


COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
The student is requested to take an oral exam to verify the knowledge acquired on the
basic physics of stellar interiors. This requires a relevant effort to summarize the
entire programm and to link the two main moduls of the course (basic physics for
stellar interiors, application to the different evolutionary phases). The student
is also requested to submit, before the exam, a written report on a specific project.


LEARNING SKILLS:
The student during the course will acquire the knowledge required to build up a
research activity in stellar Astrophysics (resolved stellar populations) and/or
on the large scale structure of the Universe (un-resolved stellar populations)
and/or in the estimate of astrophysical/cosmological parameters. This means unique
opportunities not only for a PhD, but also job opportunities concerning space
activity and big data.