Astrophysical fluids
Coordinator: Dr Paul Cally (Department of Mathematics)
4 points * First semester * Clayton * Prerequisites: MAT2010, MAA2011, MAA2032 * Recommendations: MAA2042, PHS2022, PHS2251, PHS2262 * Prohibitions: MAA3221
Objectives On the completion of this subject students will be sufficiently familiar with astrophysical hydrodynamics to be able to undertake the other ASP third-year subjects; understand the basic characteristics of steady compressible flow; be able to perform linearisation to determine wave motions and test for instabilities; have a rudimentary knowledge of shocks and their numerical modelling; be acquainted with magneto-hydrodynamics.
Synopsis The continuum description of compressible fluids; ionisation; steady flows, accretion onto stars, the solar wind; linear sound waves; linear stability, convective and shear instabilities; stellar oscillations; interstellar medium, shocks and supernova blast waves, numerical simulation; magneto-hydrodynamics.
Assessment Examination (1.5 hours): 70% * Assignments: 30%
Recommended texts
Bowers R and Deeming T D Astrophysics vols 1 and 2, Jones and Bartlett, 1984
Shu F The physics of astrophysics vol. 2, Gas dynamics University Science Books, 1992
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