Ast 8001: Astrophysical Radiative Processes
Syllabus, Spring 2016
M, W, F 9:05 – 9:55, Ford 155
Tom Jones, Instructor, 411 Walter Library
Office Hours: Monday 10:15-11:15 (prefer 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 useful supplements:
Shu, “Physics of Astrophysics: Radiative Processes”
Jackson, “Classical Electrodynamics”
Landau and Lifshitz, “Classical Theory of Fields”
Grading:
*Homework: ~7-8 sets (40% of grade)
*Midterm (20% of grade) Friday, March 25 (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). The paper is due in the last class or in my mailbox (Fraser 345) no later than 4:00 PM on Friday, May 6.
*Take home, comprehensive final exam (30% of grade).
The exam will be available between 9:00 AM, Monday, May 9 and 3:30 PM, Thursday, May 12. Once you receive the exam you have up to 24 hours to work it, subject to those boundary conditions.
The exam will be distributed individually by email as described below.
Your solutions (preferably on paper) must be returned either to me or to my mailbox in Fraser 345 according to the time limit rules listed above (within 24 hours or before 3:30 PM on Thursday, whichever comes first).
Within the above rules you can choose when you want to work the exam. I need to receive an email (twj@umn.edu) no later than 8:00 PM, Sunday, May 8, telling when you want to receive the exam (Requested start times can be between 9:00 AM and 4:15 PM. I will do my best to match the request. Officially your exam window starts when I email it to you.)
Homework sets: ·
Homework #1 (due, Feb 3)
Homework #2 (due, Feb 10) (solutions)
Homework #3 (due, Feb 17) (solutions)
Course paper ‘proposal’ (due Feb 24)
Homework #4 (due, March 9) (solutions)
Homework #5 (due, March 23) (solutions)
Homework # 6 (due, April 6) (solutions)
Homework #7 (due, April 20) (solutions)
Homework #8 (due, May 4)
· Note on late homework policy: Problem sets will be accepted and graded without penalty one class period after the posted due date. After that, they will receive zero credit.
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