The interstellar medium (ISM) is the place where material from old stars gets recycled into new generations of stars. The ISM thus plays a central role in the evolution of galaxies and of matter in the Universe. This course teaches the concepts necessary to understand the ISM: the physics of rarefied gases under various conditions. These concepts have applications in all branches of astrophysics.
After following the course, the student will be able to:
describe the diagnostics of rarefied gases: explain what types of gas emit radiation at which wavelengths, and how the spectral lines of atoms and molecules may be used to determine the conditions of a gas;
describe the heating and cooling of rarefied gases: tell the main mechanisms which influence the gas temperature and explain when which mechanisms play a role;
describe the dynamics of interstellar gases: explain which processes cause motions in the gas, and when which process plays a role;
describe the conditions for star formation: explain which conditions in the interstellar medium are necessary and sufficient for the formation of new stars.
These goals will be achieved at two levels: a theoretical level where the student can express insight, and a practical level where this insight is applied in calculations.
Required: The Physics and Chemistry of the Interstellar Medium, A.G.G.M. Tielens, Cambridge University Press, ISBN: 0521826349
Recommended: Astrophysics Of Gaseous Nebulae And Active Galactic Nuclei, Osterbrock & Ferland, University Science Books; second edition, ISBN: 1891389343
Astrophysics B / Radiative Processes in Astrophysics: the book by Rybicki & Lightman.
Students must register for the course at least two weeks before the first lecture, i.e., by week 15. The book by Tielens may take a week or more to be delivered, so it also should be ordered by week 15. Registration should be done by e-mailing Floris van der Tak, with a cc to Gineke Alberts. See below for contact info.
The course consists of 2x2 hours of lectures and 1x2 hours of practical work per week, over a period of 8 weeks. Before each lecture, the students read the relevant chapter of the book. In the lectures, the course material is introduced and illustrated with examples. At the end of each lecture, the homework assignments for the following practical work session are handed out. The students prepare answers to each question in the form of a short (~1 page per subquestion) digital slide show (using PowerPoint, Keynote, OpenOffice, or a similar program) and send it by e-mail to the assistant by Thursday. In the practical sessions, a randomly selected student presents his/her solution to the question, and the group discusses this solution. The quality of these presentations and participation in these discussions together form ½ of the grade for the course.
After the last week of lectures, there is a written exam in two parts. The first part consists of questions into knowledge and insight of the course material, which must be answered without the book. The second part consists of application-type questions which may be answered using the book. The final grade for the course is the average of the grades for the exam and for the homework assignments, but both parts must be sufficient, i.e., graded 6 or higher.
There are a few changes relative to the Ocasys page: see the table below for topics and preparatory homework from the book by Tielens. Notes: (1) No lecture on May 4; (2) All sessions start at 11:15; (3) The lectures on Tuesdays and Thursdays are in ZG 257; the homework sessions are Fridays in ZG 161.
|
Date |
Topic |
Book chapter |
|
27-04-2010 |
1 |
|
|
|
Part 1: Regions of ionized gas |
|
|
29-04-2010 |
2.1.1 (atoms), 2.1.4 |
|
|
07-05-2010 |
|
|
|
06-05-2010 |
7.1 – 7.3 |
|
|
11-05-2010 |
2.2 – 2.4, 3.1 – 3.2 |
|
|
21-05-2010 |
|
|
|
18-05-2010 |
7.4 – 7.5 |
|
|
20-05-2010 |
12 |
|
|
28-05-2010 |
|
|
|
|
Part 2: Regions of neutral gas |
|
|
25-05-2010 |
8 (not 8.7) |
|
|
27-05-2010 |
2.5 – 2.6, 3.3 – 3.4 |
|
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04-06-2010 |
|
|
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01-06-2010 |
11 |
|
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03-06-2010 |
9 (not 9.9 – 9.11) |
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11-06-2010 |
|
|
|
|
Part 3: Regions of molecular gas |
|
|
08-06-2010 |
5 |
|
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10-06-2010 |
2.1.1 - 2.1.3, 8.7 |
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18-06-2010 |
|
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15-06-2010 |
3.5 – 3.11, 4 |
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17-06-2010 |
10 (not 10.4 – 10.7) |
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25-06-2010 |
|
|
|
22-06-2010 |
The extragalactic ISM |
6, 13 (not 6.4 – 6.7) |
|
24-06-2010 |
Presentation of student papers |
|
|
25-06-2010 |
|
|
|
05-07-2010 |
Exam = deadline assignments |
10:00-12:00, ZG 257 |
Floris van der Tak:
telephone (050) 363 8753
e-mail f.f.s.van.der.tak AT rug.nl
office: 5419.0294 (Zernike building, second floor)
Zsófia Nagy:
telephone (050) 363 8322
e-mail nagy AT astro.rug.nl
office 5419.0280 (Zernike building, second floor)
Gineke Alberts (Education Secretary):
telephone (050) 363 4073
e-mail m.g.alberts AT astro.rug.nl
office 5419.0178 (Zernike building, first floor)
Last update: January 8, 2010