Outline
PHY404 will cover advanced astrophysics topics involving observations and theory of star and planet formation, plus the evolution of low, intermediate and high mass single stars, close binary evolution, plus end states (white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes), supernovae and gamma ray bursts.
Low mass star formation; giant molecular clouds; pre-main sequence; multiple stars; massive star formation; planets and brown dwarfs; star clusters.
Introduction; evolution of low, intermediate and high mass single stars; close binary evolution; end states, supernovae, gamma ray bursts
Assessment
Star formation topics will be assessed via an article on star formation (10 per cent, deadline Mon 16 Jan 2017 at 4pm), while stellar evolution will be assessed via a short essay (10 per cent, deadline Mon 14 Nov 2016 at 4pm) The end-of-semester exam contributes the remaining 80 per cent (3 star formation and 2 star evolution questions - answer 1 from each section plus 1 more question). Although PHY404 was new in 2014/15, the module content overlaps with 90 percent of Sections I-II from PHY401/402 which ended in 2013/14.
Lectures for 2016/17 session
| Week | Mon (11am, LT-10) | Thu (11am, F24) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sep 26 | Stellar Evolution 1 PDF | Stellar Evolution 2 PDF |
| 2. Oct 3 | Stellar Evolution 3 PDF | Stellar Evolution 4 PDF |
| 3. Oct 10 | Stellar Evolution 5 PDF | Stellar Evolution 6 PDF |
| 4. Oct 17 | Stellar Evolution 7 PDF | Stellar Evolution 8 PDF |
| 5. Oct 24 | Star Formation 1 | Star Formation 2 |
| 6. Oct 31 | Star Formation 3 | Star Formation 4 |
| 7. Nov 7 | Reading Week | Reading Week |
| 8. Nov 14 | Star Formation 5 | Star Formation 6 |
| 9. Nov 21 | Star Formation 7 | Star Formation 8 |
| 10. Nov 28 | Star Formation 9 | Star Formation 10 |
| 11. Dec 5 | Star Formation 11 | Star Formation 12 |
Slides for Star Formation lectures are available from here. Revision classes will be scheduled once the exam timetable is known. (formation).
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Sept 2016 Paul.Crowther@sheffield.ac.uk