The Sun and the Heliosphere

Code:

AST4005

Acronym:

AST4005

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Astronomy

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:A_ASTR	15	Study plan since academic year 2023/2024	1	-	6	42	162
			2

Teaching language

English

Objectives

Learning outcomes and competences

1- To distinguish between the active and the quiet sun and to identify the main solar active phenomena associated with its magnetic field

2- To use magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) as a theory to describe the behaviour of plasmas in the presence of magnetic fields

3- To obtain MHD solutions for static fields and for waves in plasmas

4- To use MHD in order to model the equilibrium in arcades/prominences, the energy release in solar flares via magnetic reconnection, the heating of the solar corona and the acceleration of the solar wind

5- To describe the heliosphere and its main properties recognize its importance for the space weather

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. The Sun
- Observations of the Sun. Solar activity.
- Photosphere, transition region, chromosphere and corona.
- Structure and configuration of the solar magnetic field

2. The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) description
- Properties and fundamental equations
- Equilibrium solutions
- Waves in MHD

3. Applications of MHD to the Sun
- Equilibrium models for sunspots, arcades and prominences
- Magnetic reconnection and solar flares.
- Models for heating the solar corona.
- The solar wind. models

4. The heliosphere.
- Origin and exploration
- The global magnetic field of the heliosphere
- Space weather

Mandatory literature

Eric Priest; Magnetohydrodynamics of the Sun, Cambridge University Press, 2014. ISBN: 0521854717
E. R. Priest; Solar Magnetohydrodynamics, Reidel Publishing Company, 2000. ISBN: 9027721386

Complementary Bibliography

Andre´ Balogh, Louis J. Lanzerotti, Steven T. Suess; The Heliosphere through the Solar Activity Cycle, Springer, 2008. ISBN: 978-3-540-74301-9
F. Shu; The Physics of Astrophysics. Volume 2: Gas Dynamicss, University Science Book, 1992. ISBN: 0935702652
L. Golub, Jay M. Pasachoff; The solar corona, Cambridge University Press, 1997. ISBN: 0521485355
Mari Paz Miralles, Jorge Sánchez Almeida; The Sun, the Solar Wind, and the Heliosphere, Springer, 2011. ISBN: 978-90-481-9786-6
H. Zirin; Astrophysics of the Sun, Cambridge University Press, 1988. ISBN: 0521316073
Markus J Aschwanden; Physics of the Solar Corona. An Introduction with Problems and Solutions, Springer, 2005. ISBN: 3-540-30765-6

Teaching methods and learning activities

Expository method intercalated by problem solving.  Some problems will be given to students in order to be solved in classes or at home.

Presentation of an article in a short talk and report, from a list provided at the beginning of the semester.

keywords

Physical sciences > Astronomy > Astrophysics

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Teste	25,00
Trabalho escrito	7,00
Exame	50,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	18,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	100,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho escrito	3,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	17,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

There will be no attendance record in classes of this curricular unit.

Calculation formula of final grade

Distributed evaluation:

Final mark = 25% of mark of test + 25% of mark of the talk and report + 50% of mark of the exam (to take place in normal exam season).

Minimum mark in exam (normal season): 7/20.

The final mark will be the mark of the normal (1st) season.

If the student has not passed, he can use the 2nd season exam for this purpose. In this case, the exam count towards 75% of the final grade while the talk and report count towards 25% of that same final grade.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The students with a special status, namely working-students will be subjected to an evaluation equal to the remaining students.

Working-students will be consulted regarding the dates of the Test and the Talk (which is also the deadline for sending the Report) so that they can organize their schedule and be present at these assessment moments, if they so wish.

Classification improvement

Observations

The lectures will be taught in portuguese in case all students are fluent on it.

Jury of the curricular unit:
João Lima
Nuno Santos