Advanced Topics in Stars and Planets

Code:

AST602

Acronym:

AST602

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Astronomy

Instance: 2024/2025 - A

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctoral Program in Astronomy

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDA	6	P.E. do Programa Doutoral em Astronomia	1	-	6	30	162

Teaching language

English

Objectives

In this UC the students develop the necessary skills to understand and be prepared for research in advanced topics related to the study of stars and planets. Two topics are chosen annually among a number of possibilities that include studies of: the sun, the solar system, the physics and dynamics of stellar interiors, the evolution of stars, the formation and evolution of exoplanetary systems, the detection and characterization of exoplanets, the astrochemistry of the interstellar medium, astrobiology, among others. At the end of the UC the students must understand and be able to apply techniques that are currently in use by the scientific community working on the selected topics. These can include techniques for the extraction of information from the data, for data interpretation, for the modeling of physical phenomena, etc. Students are also expected to be able to critically review articles related to those topics and to identify associated open questions.

Learning outcomes and competences

The syllabus ensures that students are exposed to all material required for the full understanding of the topics under consideration. In particular it introduces critical theoretical aspects that are not addressed in previous university stages and tools that allow the students to interpret relevant data. The syllabus also ensures that the student is exposed to recent published results in that research area and acquires a clear perspective of the future evolution of the field.

Working method

Presencial

Program

The contents depend on the topics selected each year, within the area of research on planest and stars. Possible topics for this academic year may be:

A. Characterization of exoplanets: 

A1) Introduction: detection methods and their complementarity. Importance of instrumentation.

A2) Measurement of exoplanet parameters, mass, radius and characterization of their orbits.
A3) Atmospheres of planets, techniques and detection of molecules.
A4) Theories of planet formation.
A5) Planet population statistics. Instrumentation for the future.

B. Stellar magnetic activity: 

B1) Solar magnetic activity and rotation
B2) Classification of solar-like stars
B3) Observations for stellar magnetic activity and rotation
B4) Magnetic-activity and angular momentum evolution
B5) Relation between magnetic-activity and rotation
B6) Asteroseismology of magnetic cycles
B7) Magnetism in other types of stars
B8) Open questions and the future

Mandatory literature

Sara Seager; Exoplanets, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-8165-2945-2
Michael Perryman; The Exoplanet Handbook, Cambridge University Press, 2014
Gibor Basri; Book on Starspots, 2022. ISBN: 978-0-7503-2132-7 (https://iopscience.iop.org/book/mono/978-0-7503-2132-7)

Complementary Bibliography

Several Authors; Research Articles to be provided by each lecturer
Gerald Terry Gilmore; Galactic Structure and Stellar Populations, Springer, 2013. ISBN: 978-94-007-5611-3
Marc Pinsonneault; Stellar structure and evolution. ISBN: 978-1-108-83581-7

Comments from the literature

Other additional documents (articles, etc) will be provided by the lecturers.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The modules are based in presentations by the lectures (board or video), joint work on specific problems, discussion of research articles, presentations by the students and/or resolution of exercises.

The presentations by the lectures will guarantee that the students gain the necessary background to follow and actively work on the subjects under consideration. These will generally include aspects of the physics of the problem, as well as the details of techniques currently used in the field, and may also introduce currently­in­use software. The joint work and resolution of exercises will guarantee that the students develop the skills necessary to apply the information, techniques and other material introduced by the lectures to real case studies. The presentation by the students of recent research articles guarantees that they get in close contact to on­going research related to the topics under consideration at the same time as they develop a critical view on research.

keywords

Physical sciences > Astronomy
Physical sciences
Physical sciences > Astronomy > Astrophysics

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Prova oral	50,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	72,00
Frequência das aulas	30,00
Trabalho escrito	60,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

The participation in classes is mandatory and follows the evaluation regulations.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final mark is the average of the results obtained in modules A and B (topics to be defined in due time). The evaluation in each topic will be defined by the lecturer. In the current year the evaluation is done in the following way:

A)

- Presentation and discussion of two articles (30% + 30%)
- Coding, report and presentation of results (40%).

B)

- Presentations and discussion of articles (50%);

- Report to be submited on the topic proposed by the lecturer (60%)

Classification improvement

There is no option to improve the final mark.

Observations

Jury: Mário j. P. F. G. Monteiro, Nuno M. C. Santos