Astrophysics and Cosmology

obligatory courses

Analysis I 390-FS1-1AM1
Analysis II 390-FS1-1AM2
Astronomy 390-FS1-3AST

Students should know some topics taken from Astronomy (e.g. what is it a star, the Solar system, a galaxy, the basis of the evolution of stars). Students should also know how to rearrange an equation, calculate differentials or integrals.

(in Polish) w sali
Blended learning

An aim of the lecture and the colloquium seminars is to acquaint students with chosen subjects of modern astrophysics and cosmology. The classes should be given in a classroom with blackboard. The classes will also be illustrated by diagrams, figures, photos, or movies.

Subjects realized at the lecture:

I. Structure of stars, evolution of stars:

1. The nature of astronomy: Sources of information, Blackbody radiation.

2. The virial theorem. The negative specific heat of a star.

3. Stellar nucleosynthesis: Coulomb barrier, proton-proton chain reaction, CNO cycle, and triple-alpha process.

4. Equations of stellar structure: mass balance, hydrostatic equilibrium, EOS, thermal equilibrium.

5. Energy transport in a star: convective heat transfer, radiative transport, conductivity.

6. Star formation: Jeans (critical) length and Jeans mass.

7. Hertzsprung-Russel diagram.

II. Relativistic astrophysics:

1. The Pauli exclusion principle, Maxwell-Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein distribution, 1-D and 3-D degeneracy, nonrelativistic and relativistic EOS of degenerated matter.

2. White dwarf: Chandrasekhar limit.

3. Black hole: event horizon, relativistic properties, Hawking radiation. Black holes in the Universe.

5. Gravitational waves: properties, detectors. Hulse–Taylor binary, the source GW150914, GW170817.

III. Cosmology:

1. The Milky Way, Local Group, Superclusters.

2. The expanding Universe: the Olbers' paradox, the Hubble-Lemaître law.

3. The Friedmann, fluid, and acceleration equation.

4. Curvature of the Universe, Hubble time, Hubble horizon distance

5. The Standard Model (Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker universe).

6. The Big Bang Theory: the Universe dominated by the radiation and by the matter, the dark matter and dark energy, the future of the Universe.

Subjects realized at the colloquium seminars:

All exercises are related to the mentioned above topics.

Inter alia:

1. Plank's law (Planck function, Wien, Rayleigh-Jeans formulas), Wien's displacement law, Stefan-Boltzman law, the temperature of the Sun;

2. Virial theorem in practice. The potential energy of a star.

3. The thermal, the dynamic, and nuclear time-scales.

4. Estimation of the efficiency of energy production in a star, proton-proton chain. Estimation of a neutrino flux approaching our head.

5. Estimation of the central temperature and pressure in a star.

6. Estimation of the Jeans mass and length for a molecular cloud.

7. Binary stars: the Lagrangian points. the Algol paradox, the Eddington luminosity.

8. Estimation of the Chandrasekhar mass.

9. Estimation of basic parameters of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.

10. Gravitational waves: the power radiated by a binary system.

11. The Olbers' paradox, Hubble-Lemaître law, Hubble time, Hubble horizon distance.

12. Cosmic microwave radiation:

13. Dark matter.

Recommended literature:

1. B. Basu, An Introduction to Astrophysics, PHI Learning Private Limited, Delhi, 2013.

2. L. A. Anchordoqui, Lectures os Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology, 2016 ( http://arxiv.org/pdf/0706.1988v3.pdf ).

3. A. Liddle, An Introduction to Modern Cosmology, WILEY, 2009.

Additional literature:

1. M. S. Longair, High Energy Astrophysics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2011

2. M.S. Longair, Galaxy formation, Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1998.

3. H. Bradt, Astrophysics Processes, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2008

4. The Internet: web pages of ESO, ESA, NASA, astronomical www pages

A student:

1. has a widen knowledge in the matter of chosen subject taken from astrophysics and cosmology, he/she knows basics conceptions of mathematical models the chosen astrophysical and cosmological phenomena (K_W09);

2. has a knowledge of research directions, problems of modern physics and the latest discoveries in physics (K_W10);

3. is able to apply theoretical physics methods to the quantitative and qualitative analysis of selected systems and physical phenomena within the scope of the programme of Specialties (K_U09);

4. understands and critically uses the professional literature and resources of the Internet - including sources in English with regard to the problems studied in physics (K_U10);

5. Understands the need to continuously deepen their knowledge and the need to provide a reliable, evidence-based, knowledge base on physics and its uses (K_K02).

The written exam in the form of a test (answer to questions and solve exercises) will be at the end of the colloquium seminars.

The oral exam will be after the end of the course.

In the case of the test:

0-49% correct answers - 2.0 (F)

50-59% - 3.0 (E)

60-69% - 3.5 (D)

70-79% - 4.0 (C)

80-89% - 4.5 (B)

90-100% - 5.0 (A)

Not required.