High Energy Astrophysics

Code:

AST348

Acronym:

AST348

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Astronomy

Instance: 2011/2012 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	First Degree in Astronomy

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:AST	1	Plano de Estudos a partir de 2008	3	-	7,5	-
M:AST	2	Plano de Estudos do Mestrado em Astronomia	1	-	7,5	-

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The aim of the course to is to help students to get acquainted with the content of the Cosmos and deepen their understanding of physics through its application to phenomena in the sky, and most particularly to stars.

Program

1. Cosmography
- The content of the Cosmos
- Determination of Distances e Luminosity

2. Cosmological Standard Model
- Thermal History of the Universe
- Nucleosynthesis
- Inflation
- Determination of the cosmological parameters and Dark Energy

3. Galaxies
- Structure and Constitution

4. Dark Matter
- Observacional evidence, scales and candidates

5. Stars
- Classification, Herztsprung-Russell diagram, Atmosphers, Structure and Sources of Energy

6. Compact Objects
- White dwarfs, Neutron stars and Black holes

7. Gamma-ray Bursts


Bibliografia

- S. Weinberg, ``Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and Applications of the General Theory of Relativity'' (John Wiley and Sons, New York 1972). Chapters: 11, 14 e 15.
- E.W. Kolb e M.S. Turner, ``The Early Universe'' (Addison-Wesley P. C., 1990). Chapters: 1, 3, 4, 5 e 8.
- T. Padmanabhan, ``Theoretical Astrophysics", (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2000).
- R.Q. Huang and K.N. Yu, ``Stellar Astrophysics", (Springer-Verlag, Singapore 1998).
- R. Kippenhahn and A. Weigert, ``Stellar Structure and Evolution", (Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 1990).
- V.B. Bhatia, ``Astronomy and Astrophysics with Elements of Cosmology", (Alpha Science International Ltd, Pangbourne 2001).
- A.C. Phillips, ``The Physics of Stars", (John Wiley & Sons, 1999).
- J.N. Bahcall and J.P. Ostriker Editors, ``Unsolved Problems in Astrophysics", (Princeton University Press, Princeton 1997).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade = 75% Exam marking + 25% Presentation marking

Examinations or Special Assignments

Suggestions for presentations: Pulsars and Neutron stars, Active Galactic Nuclei, White dwarfs, Supernovae, Hipernovae, Cosmic Rays.