Ast 8001: Astrophysical Radiative Processes
Syllabus, Fall 2013
M, T, W 11:15 – 12:05, Tate 157
Tom Jones, Instructor, 369 Physics (also 411 Walter Library)
Office Hours: Monday 1:15-2:00; otherwise, by appointment.
Objectives: The course is intended to provide a broad, practical introduction to the classical and quantum physics of electromagnetic radiation as it commonly applies to astrophysics. Emphasis is on the radiative processes themselves (emission, absorption, scattering, radiative transport, etc), but the topics will be selected to offer insights into astrophysical applications.
Outline of Topics:
Weeks 1-2: Fundamentals of Electromagnetic Radiation: Energy, Waves, Dielectrics, the equation of transport
Weeks 3-4: Fundamentals of Radiative Transfer: Einstein coefficients, emission, absorption, scattering, thermodynamic equilibrium
Weeks 5-9: Relativity: Some important classical emission processes; bremsstrahlung, synchrotron emission, Thomson scattering.
Weeks 10-15: Quantum radiation processes: Compton scattering, atomic emissions, selection rules, molecular emissions, high energy processes
Some important supplements:
Shu, “Physics of Astrophysics: Radiative Processes”
Jackson, “Classical Electrodynamics”
Landau and Lifshitz, “Classical Theory of Fields”
Grading:
*Homework: ~7 sets (40% of grade)
*Midterm (20% of grade) Wednesday, November 13 (in class)
*~Five page paper, derived from the published literature, demonstrating an example of how understanding a radiative process(es) leads to an astrophysical insight (10 % of grade) Paper is due in the last class session.
*Take home, comprehensive final exam (30% of grade).The exam will be available to be picked up in Tate 356 from Thursday, December 12. You must return your solutions within 24 hours, but no later than 4:00 PM on Thursday, December 19.
Homework sets:
Homework #1 (due, Tuesday, September 17)
Homework #2 (due, Tuesday, September 24)
Homework #3 (due, Tuesday, October 8)
Course paper ‘proposal’ (due Oct 15)
Homework #4 (due, Tuesday, October 29)
Homework #5 (due Tuesday, November 5)
Homework # 6 (due Tuesday, November 26)
Homework #7 (due Tuesday, December 10)
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