Course:ASTR402
| Fundamentals of Astrophysics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| ASTR 402 | |
| Section: | 101 |
| Instructor: | Jeremy Heyl |
| Email: | heyl@phas.ubc.ca |
| Office: | Hennings 417 |
| Office Hours: | MW 12-13 |
| Class Schedule: | MWF 11-12 |
| Classroom: | FNSC 320 |
| Important Course Pages | |
| Syllabus | |
| Lecture Notes | |
| Assignments | |
| Course Discussion | |
Instructor: Jeremy Heyl
Topics
Topics we will cover include:
- Radiative transfer
- Atomic/molecular physics
- Astrophysical hydrodynamics
- Bremsstralung
- Synchrotron radiation
Although we will study a broad range of physical processes, the emphasis will be astrophysical applications such as
- Supernovae remnants
- Gamma-ray bursts
- Pulsars
- Quasars
- Masers
- Accretion Flows
Grading Scheme
I will base the grades on the short weekly problem sets (10%), class participation, a midterm (30%) and final exam (60%). Problem sets are due on Monday (Wednesday if Monday is a holiday). Late assignments will not be accepted.
Textbooks
I will provide extended lecture notes along with problem sets at the beginning of the course on this website PDF or Wiki. Although you will find the entire course in the notes at the beginning, the notes may evolve during the course and I may diverge from the notes during the lectures themselves.
You may find the following texts useful Radiative Processes in Astrophysics, by George Rybicki and Alan P. Lightman, both volumes of Frank Shu's The Physics of Astrophysics and the first volume of Theoretical Astrophysics by Thanu Padmanabhan. I have placed these books on reserve in the main library. Rybicki and Lightman is available at the bookstore.