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Winter 2002
This information effective for Winter 2002.
Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.
Winter 2002
Instructor: P. H. Bodenheimer
MWF 9:30–10:40 a.m.
College Eight 252
This class is designed for physics majors in their junior or senior year. Two
years of college physics and two years of college math (including at least one
year of calculus) are highly recommended as preparation. The course will show
how known physical principles, in conjunction with astronomical observations,
can
be used to extract information about the structure and evolution of stars.
Textbook: B"ohm-Vitense, E., INTRO. TO STELLAR ASTROPHYSICS, Vol. 2:
Stellar Atmospheres. Cambridge University Press. Paperback.
(textbook will possibly be changed).
Topics
1. Basic Observational Data
a. Solar Data
b. Magnitudes, Distances, Parallaxes of Stars
c. Stellar Energy Distributions, Colors, Temperatures
d. Line spectra, spectral types
e. Color-Magnitude diagrams, Clusters, Ages
f. Binary systems and stellar masses
g. Chemical composition
2. Stellar Atmospheres
a. Radiative Transfer
b. Equilibrium conditions in Stellar Atmospheres
c. Absorption Coefficient
d. Structure of a Stellar Atmosphere
e. Formation of Spectral Lines
f. Onset of Convection
3. Stellar Interiors and Evolution
a. Equations of Stellar Structure
b. Physics of Stellar Interior, Nuclear Rates
c. Phases of Stellar Evolution
d. Final stages: White Dwarfs, Supernovae,
Neutron Stars
Course Requirements
1 term paper
1 practice quiz, take home, open book
1 final quiz, closed book
several homework problems
There may be a final problem set rather than a final quiz.