Astronomy 200: Stellar Structure and Evolution

Winter term 2007, Instructor: Francis Wilkin

tentative Syllabus | Schedule | Textbook webpage | APOD | Union College Observatory

Final exam Fri Mar 16, 9am in NWSE 303 (usual classroom)

Catalog description: An examination of the physical principles governing the structure and evolution of stars. Topics include radiation laws and the determination of stellar temperature, luminosity and composition; radiative transfer and the interior structure of stars; nuclear fusion and nucleosynthesis; star clusters and stellar evolution; and stellar remnants (white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, black holes).
Prerequisite: Physics 111 or 121 or IMP 113.

Stars are the fundamental objects of astrophysics and our understanding of the working of stars is one of the great scientific achievements of the 20th century. Our star, the Sun, supplies the energy needed by almost all life forms on Earth, and additionally, all chemical elements from carbon and heavier were created in stars. We are made of star-stuff. Understanding the stars is a stepping stone in our quest for our own origins.

This course combines our knowledge of the stars from data taken with telescopes and spectrographs, with modeling of stellar interiors using fundamental physics of the interaction of matter, radiation, and gravity.

Course format: lecture, with class discussion of readings as well.

Midterm exam monday Feb 5
First Reading assignment: Sections 2.1 and especially 2.2, also p49.
Second Reading assignment: Thermal radiation - see schedule above.

Check out the spectacular Astronomy Picture of the Day!