ASP3222

Physics for astrophysics

(SCI)

Professor John Pilbrow (Department of Physics)

6 points + Three 1-hour lectures and an average of 0.6 hours tutorial and 1 hour laboratory per week + Second semester + Clayton + Prerequisites: PHS2011, PHS2022, MTH2010, MTH2032 + Highly Recommended: ASP2022 + Prohibition: PHS3062

Synopsis: This subject consists of three 12-lecture units and a 12-hour astrophysics laboratory component. The key areas in the units are: Stellar atmospheres: features of spectra including line broadening and splitting which provide data on the characteristics of a star's atmosphere; Elementary particles: spin, parity, isotopic spin, strangeness and baryon/lepton number, conservation laws of the fundamental interactions, symmetry theories; Nuclear physics: nuclear stability, shell model and angular momentum, radioactive decay selection rules, the neutrino and Fermi theory of beta decay, nuclear force; Astrophysics laboratory: analysis and simulation of astrophysical phenomena.

Assessment: Examinations (4.5 hours at 1.5 hours each): 72% + Assignments: 18% + Laboratory: 10%