Instruction offered by members of the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science.
Department Head - R.I. Thompson
Note: For listings of related courses, see Astronomy, Physics, Medical Physics, and Space Physics.
Astrophysics 503
The Interstellar Medium
Multiwavelength observations of gas and dust in our Galaxy; distribution and physics of neutral atomic hydrogen and molecules; interstellar chemistry; physics of dust grains; HII regions; interstellar shocks; gas dynamics; star formation. Course Hours:H(3-0) Prerequisite(s):Astrophysics 213, Physics 325, 381, and one of Mathematics 349 or 375 or Applied Mathematics 307. Notes:Taught in the Fall of odd years.
Clusters of galaxies; microwave and X-ray background radiation; dark matter and dark energy; overview of cosmology; general relativistic considerations; large-scale structure and expansion of the universe; nucleosynthesis; gamma ray bursts and cosmic rays. Course Hours:H(3-0) Prerequisite(s):Astrophysics 213, Physics 325, 381, and one of Mathematics 349 or 375 or Applied Mathematics 307. Notes:Taught in the Winter of even years.
Principles and tools of modern ground-based and space astronomy emphasizing ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio radiation. Data acquisition and reduction techniques for astrometry, photometry, spectroscopy, imaging, and interferometry. Use of astronomical data analysis software. Course Hours:H(1-6)
Wave propagation, antennas, interferometry, aperture synthesis, radio receivers, and spectrometers. Applications to continuum and line radiation in stars, interstellar medium and extragalactic objects. Course Hours:H(3-0)
Interaction of high energy particles with matter, propagation and origin of cosmic rays; structure of white dwarfs and neutron stars; the physics of jets and the accretion process onto compact objects; supernovae and supernova remnants; active galactic nuclei. Course Hours:H(3-0)