Introduction to Astrophysics

Course guarantor:

Lecturer:

Tutor:

Supervisor:

Department of Physics

Synopsis:

The aim of the course is to offer students an engaging introduction to the fascinating world of astrophysics. They will gain a basic understanding of the structure of the universe, stellar evolution, and explore intriguing intersections between nuclear physics and astrophysics.

Requirements:

The knowledge are controled during final oral exam.

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Units and main observables in Astrophysics

2. Blackbody radiation, absorption lines and chemical composition of the stars

3. HertzsprungRussell diagrams

4. Classification of the stars and evolution timescales

5. Galaxies, globular clusters and dark matter

6. Stellar structure: continuity, hydrostatic equilibrium, energy conservation equations

7. Equation of state for ideal gasses

8. Radiative and convective transports, adiabatic gradient, Schwarzschild criterion

9. Optical depth and border conditions

10. Main nuclear burnings (Hydrogen, Helium, Carbon), neutrino flux

11. Late stages of the stellar evolution, Supernovae

12. White dwarfs structure and Chandrasekhar limit

13. Neutron stars, equation of state and hyperon puzzle

Syllabus of tutorials:

Study Objective:

The aim of the course is to offer students an engaging introduction to the fascinating world of astrophysics. They will gain a basic understanding of the structure of the universe, stellar evolution, and explore intriguing intersections between nuclear physics and astrophysics.

Study materials:

[1] Pinsonneault, Marc, and Barbara Ryden. Stellar Structure and Evolution. Cambridge University Press, 2023.

[2] Lamers, Henny J.G.L.M., and Emily M. Levesque. Understanding Stellar Evolution. IOP Publishing, 2022.

[3] Eldridge, J. J., and Christopher A. Tout. The Structure and Evolution of Stars. World Scientific Publishing, 2019.

[4] R. Kippenhahn, A. Weigert, A. Weiss, Stellar Structure and Evolution, 2nd Edition, Springer 2012.

Note:

Further information:

No time-table has been prepared for this course

The course is a part of the following study plans:

• Jaderná a částicová fyzika (elective course)
• Nuclear and Particle Physics (elective course)