ASP3021

Astrophysical fluids

Dr Paul Cally (Department of Mathematics and Statistics)

4 points
* Two 1-hour lectures per week
* First semester
* Clayton
* Prerequisites: MAT2030, MAT2040, MAA2032 or MAT2072
* Recommendations: MAA2042 or MAT2102, PHS2022
* Prohibitions: MAA3221, MAT3121

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; will understand the basic characteristics of steady compressible flow; will be able to perform linearisation to determine wave motions and test for instabilities; will have a rudimentary knowledge of shocks and their numerical modelling; will understand the role and modelling of stellar pulsation.

Synopsis The continuum description of compressible fluids; ionisation; steady flows, accretion onto stars, the solar wind; linear sound waves; linear stability, stellar oscillations; interstellar medium, shocks and supernova blast waves, numerical simulation.

Assessment Examination (2 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