Key facts
Details for course being taught in current academic year
Level M - 15 credits - autumn term
Resources
Timetable Link
course web pages
Course description
Course outline
* Observed properties of stars.
* Dynamical structure; virial theorem; polytropic models.
* Energy balance; equations of energy transport and energy production. Full equations for star in radiative equilibrium, with boundary conditions.
* Homologous solutions.
* Criterion for the occurrence of convection; changes in structure equations when convection is present. Improved surface boundary condition.
* Physics of stellar interiors: chemical composition; gas and radiation pressure; pressure of degenerate electron gas; nuclear fusion reactions H and He burning, neutrino processes; opacity scattering, bound-bound, bound-free, free-free absorption.
* Outline of stellar evolution: Hayashi track and pre-main-sequence evolution; main sequence structure; chemical inhomogeneity, red giants and post-ms evolution.
* Endpoints of stellar evolution: white dwarf models; neutron stars and black holes.
Pre-requisite
Quantum Mechanics, Thermal & Statistical Physics, Atomic Physics, Nuclear & Particle Physics I
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, a successful student should be able to
1 outline the principal observed properties of stars;
2 write down the four ordinary differential equations of stellar structure and their boundary conditions;
3. solve quantitative problems on topics in the course.
4. outline the principles of evolution of a star from the main sequence to the final stages.
Library
The Stars: their Structure and Evolution by R J Tayler (CUP 1994)
Other books at a similar level are:
Boehm Vitense, E., Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics (3 volumes; students would need: Vol. 1, Basic Stellar Observations, and Vol. 3, Stellar Structure and Evolution, CUP 1989, 1992).
Prialnik, D., An Introduction to the Theory of Stellar Structure and Evolution (CUP 2000)
Assessments
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 40.00% | |
| Problem Sets | Autumn Week 3 | 25.00% |
| Problem Sets | Autumn Week 5 | 25.00% |
| Problem Sets | Autumn Week 7 | 25.00% |
| Problem Sets | Autumn Week 9 | 25.00% |
| Unseen Examination | Summer Term (1 hour 30 minutes) | 60.00% |
Resit mode of assessment
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Unseen Examination | Summer Vacation (1 hour 30 minutes) | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
Teaching methods
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | LECTURE | 1 hour | 2222222222 |
| Autumn Term | CLASS | 1 hour | 1111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.