ASP3222 - Physics for astrophysics

Leader(s): Associate Professor Andrei Nikulin

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit consists of three lecture sub-units and a practical component:

• Nuclear physics: nuclear stability, shell model and angular momentum, radioactive decay selection rules, the neutrino and Fermi theory of beta decay, nuclear force;
• Evolution of massive stars and synthesis of chemical elements; creation of supernova remnants and neutron stars, and types of continuum and line emission produced; interpreting X-ray spectra in relation to physical and chemical properties of these objects;
• Elementary particles: spin, parity, isotopic spin, strangeness and baryon/lepton number, conservation laws of the fundamental interactions, symmetry theories.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, students will be able to:

• describe nuclear systematics, nuclear models and nuclear structure;
• understand the evolution and nucleosynthesis in massive stars; continuum radiation, collisional plasmas and atomic line emission in X-ray band from supernova remnants; nuclear processes as the supernova shock wave propagates through the star;
• relate observed X-ray spectra to structure and dynamics of supernova remnants and neutron stars:
• describe the properties of elementary particles, their interactions and role in cosmological evolution;
• undertake computation and analysis quantifying nuclear, stellar and particle properties;
• present results, analysis and critical discussion based on a selected astrophysics topic.

Assessment

Examinations (4.5 hours at 1.5 hours each): 72%
Assignments and Practical: 28%

Contact hours

Three 1-hour lectures and an average of 2 hours tutorial/practical per week

Prerequisites

PHS2011, PHS2022, MTH2010, MTH2032

Prohibitions

PHS3062