General Prerequisites:
Course Term: Hilary
Course Lecture Information: 16 lectures
Course Overview:
Weight: 1 Units
Areas: Astro
Profs. David Alonso (RP) and Aris Karastergiou (HEA)
Linked to the C1 Astrophysics major option for undergraduate Physics.
Method of assessment: Take Home Examination in TT OR homework completion.
This a Physics course, shared with C1 the Physics Undergraduate Option. Additional course materials such as problem sheets, homework hand in, and lecture recording can be found at the Canvas site at:
https://canvas.ox.ac.uk/courses/110068 Lectures can be accessed from this link, but if you need a direct link to lectures they can be found at:
https://canvas.ox.ac.uk/courses/110068/external_tools/496
Learning Outcomes:
Course Synopsis:
Radiative processes in astrophysics – radiative transfer theory; formation and analysis of emission and absorption lines; ionisation balance; cosmic dust and extinction. Application to planetary nebulae, stars, the interstellar and the intergalactic medium.
High-energy astrophysics – accretion onto compact objects; the Eddington limit; black holes, active galaxies, compact binaries and relativistic jets. Physics of interactions between high-energy particles and radiation (synchrotron, inverse-Compton, thermal bremsstrahlung); acceleration of particles to ultra-high energies.