C1 Astrophysics
Major Option C1 AstrophysicsC1 AstrophysicsCourse co- ordinator: Julien Devriendt jeg@astro.ox.ac.uk C1 offers a total of 40 lectures on five themes covering abroad range of topics in contemporary astrophysics. Each theme takes off from the third- year courses andreaches a point where topics of current active researchcan be understood. The course uses special relativity, classical mechanicsand GR, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics andstatistical mechanics.Oxford Astrophysics
Major Option C1 Astrophysics Radiative processes in Astrophysics High- Energy Astrophysics Advanced Stellar Astrophysics Cosmology and GalaxiesOxford Astrophysics
Major Option C1 AstrophysicsRadiative Processes in AstrophysicsThe Eagle Nebula star- forming region as seen by HSTOxford Astrophysics
Major Option C1 AstrophysicsIn radiative processes part of the course, we learn many of the coretechniques of professional astronomy – how to turn all those pretty picturesinto physics!We learn how to use spectroscopy to measure the extreme physicalproperties of material in deep interstellar space – high temperatures and lowdensities. Transitions forbidden under normal lab conditions often play acrucial role.We learn how emission and absorption lines are formed in stars and nebulaeand how interstellar dust affects the observed spectrum of backgroundobjects – and how to correct for it.Finally we use relativity, electrodynamics and statistical mechanics toinvestigate the interaction of photons with high- energy particles viasynchrotron, inverse- Compton and Bremsstrahlung processes .Oxford Astrophysics
Major Option C1 AstrophysicsHigh- Energy AstrophysicsLeft: The radio sky at 20cm (photon energy 10- 6 eV). Right: Gamma- ray skymapped by the Fermi satellite at 100 GeV. The same extragalactic sources areseen in both images!Oxford Astrophysics
Major Option C1 AstrophysicsIn high- energy astrophysics we study some of the most extreme phenomenain the Universe – active galaxy jets, supernovae, accretion onto black holes,and the high- temperature intergalactic medium.We study the fluid dynamics of strong shocks to investigate the accelerationof particles to relativistic energies.We investigate the physics of relativistic jets from accreting black holes andtheir profound influence on the formation of galaxies over cosmic time, andthe interaction between intergalactic gas and the Cosmic MicrowaveBackground, which in turn allows us to measure some of the cosmologicalparameters.Finally we study the detection of high- energy particles and photons from theground via Cherenkov radiation.Oxford Astrophysics
Major Option C1 AstrophysicsAdvanced Stellar AstrophysicsLeft: Rings around supernova 1987A observed by HST. Right: model of the ring nebula demonstratingthat the progenitor of SN1987A was likely a massive binary system in a common envelope.Oxford Astrophysics
Major Option C1 AstrophysicsIn advanced stellar astrophysics we study the evolution of massive stars andsupernovae, including gamma- ray bursts and hypernovae.We examine compact objects resulting from supernovae – neutron stars,pulsars and stellar- mass black holes – and consider accretion onto compactobjects in binary systems.Finally we study the early stages of stellar evolution – star (and planet)formation from interstellar clouds and we consider the formation of the firstgenerations of stars in the universe.Oxford Astrophysics
Major Option C1 AstrophysicsCosmology and GalaxiesOxford Astrophysics
Major Option C1 AstrophysicsThe section on Cosmology and Galaxies builds on B5 General Relativity &Cosmology. We take the expanding universe Friedmann models &investigate the amplification of density fluctuations as the universe grows.These growing fluctuations are the seeds for modern day structure fromgalaxies to superclusters and encode information about the ingredients of theuniverse – baryons, dark matter and dark energy.We study how observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background andredshift surveys of galaxies may be used to measure the relative proportionsof these componentsUsing stellar population synthesis models, stellar dynamics and gravitationallensing we study the evolution of galaxy properties throughout cosmic ages,their dependence on environment and build up evidence for the existence ofdark matter.Oxford Astrophysics
Major Option C1 AstrophysicsIn ConclusionThere is no pre- requisite for C1 other than the relevant core lectures but we dorecommend the you study “Stars and Galaxies” short option notes over summer asbackground reading.Astrophysics always offers a large range of M.Phys projects, from technical work inradio and optical astronomy through observational work with the Wetton telescope tonumerical simulations, modelling and theory. We always ensure that every C1student who wishes to do an astrophysics M.Phys. project is catered for.Astrophysics is a very sociable department! C1 students are encouraged to attend ourTuesday colloquia during term which are followed by coffee, tea & cookies and dinnerwith the speaker at a nearby pub.If you wish to know more please email jeg@astro.ox.ac.uk with questions or toarrange to have a chat. Finally, for more detail, see the course web page athttp://www-astro.physics.ox.ac.uk/ astroc1/C1 Home.htmlOxford Astrophysics
Astrophysics always offers a large range of M.Phys projects, from technical work in radio and optical astronomy through observational work with the Wetton telescope to numerical simulations, modelling and theory. We always ensure that every C1 student who wishes to do an astrophysics M.Phys. project is catered for. Astrophysics is a very sociable department! C1 students are encouraged to .
Carroll & Ostlie, An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics Hilditch, An introduction to close binary stars Both on closed reserve in SciTech library. Lecture 1: Astrophysics Introduction 7 / 35. Astrophysics Astrophysics is a big subject. Sometimes will just flag where a whole (possibly large!) field branches
Astrophysics also receives tactical-level advice from the external science community via the Astrophysics Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council, and advice on cooperative activities from the Congressionally chartered, National Science Foundation (NSF)-managed Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee. NASA enables research to understand the structure, content, and evolution of the .
Astrophysics Research Institute The Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI) is one of the world’s leading authorities in astronomy and astrophysics. Its work encompasses a comprehensive programme of observational and theoretical research, telescope operation, instrument development, academic learning and outreach activities. The ARI has been honoured with various awards and prizes including: n .
Astrophysics needs input of practically all sub-disciplines of physics and thus a course on astrophysics cannot be self-contained. However, the course should be accessible to students with just a general introduction to physics. Few sections of the text that are somewhat more advanced and that can be omitted are marked by stars. I will be glad to receive feedback from the readers of these .
PARTICLE ASTROPHYSICS Dark Energy and Dark Matter 15 Dark energy There is a great deal of observational evidence from astrophysics and cosmology that the expansion of the universe is currently accelerating requires a component with equation of state P wƐwhere w 1/3 (w 1 is a vacuum energy or cosmological constant, Λ)
Laboratory astrophysics for stellar applications 221 the atomic data was, and in many cases, still is required. In this Talk and Proceedings Review paper we take stock of the achievements of Laboratory Astrophysics in terms of the advances made in the new atomic data now available to astronomers for iron group element neutral, singly and doubly ionised species, and also look to future data .
Longair: “High Energy Astrophysics” Rohlfs and Wilson: “Tools of Radio Astronomy” Dyson and Williams: “The Physics of the Interstellar Medium” Shu: “The Physics of Astrophysics I: Radiation” Radiation Processes We can measure the following quantities: The energy in the radiation as a function of a) position on the sky b) frequency The radiation’s .
worts, lichens, mosses, algae and fungi also occur. CLIMATE : The abrupt variations in the altitude (elevations) have created diverse climatic conditions. The climate is warm and humid during summer and monsoon season (June Oct.) and moderately cold during winter (Dec. Feb.) at lower elevations. The winter months become more severe as one goes up. Places like Lachen, Lachung and Dzongri areas .
