00056 - Astrophysics

Learning outcomes

The aim is to obtain a general understanding of the most important stellar and extra-galactic topics in modern astrophysics. The student will be able to understand and discuss general physical and observational properties of stars, galaxies and clusters of galaxies. The student will also learn the main properties of modern cosmological models.

Course contents

• Astronomical quantities (measures of distance and magnitude). Ground-based and space telescopes. Seeing. 
• Introduction to the main emission mechanisms (black body, synchrotron, Bremsstrahlung, inverse Compton).
  
• Physics of stellar interiors and atmospheres. Main thermonuclear reactions. Spectral classification of stars.
• Introduction to stellar evolution, supernova explosions, final stages (black holes, neutron stars, white dwarfs).
• Star clusters: properties, age and distance determination.  
• Physical and observational properties of galaxies (Hubble classification, content in terms of gas and stars, internal dynamics, spiral structure theory). Rotation curves, X-ray emitting interstellar medium, gravitational lensing as evidence of dark matter. Scaling relations.
• The distance scale ladder.
• Introduction to the unified model of active galactic nuclei.
• Main properties of clusters and groups of galaxies. The intracluster medium. Mass estimate and evidence of dark matter.
• Introduction to cosmology: the Hubble constant, expansion law, the microwave background radiation, cosmological models.

Readings/Bibliography

The exam can be prepared using the notes taken during the lessons and the power-point slides made available by the teacher at the web site "Virtuale UniBO" of the Bologna University. Hence, attending in person is strongly recommended for a successful acquisition and understanding of the discussed topics. In addition, the attending student will have opportunity to ask questions during the lessons, for a full comprehension of the course content. 

Further textbooks useful to deepen the knowledge of specific topics are listed below and can be found in libraries:

• 'An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics', B.W.Carrol & D.A. Ostlie, II ed. Cambridge Univ. Press.

• 'Fundamental Astronomy', H. Karttunen et al., Springer ed.

• 'Evolution of stars and stellar populations', Salaris & Cassisi, Wiley ed.

• 'Introduction to Galaxy formation and Evolution', Cimatti, Fraternali, Nipoti, Cambridge University Press

 

Teaching methods

Class lectures are made with the support of power-point presentations. The lessons provide explanation of both theoretical and observational astrophysics concepts, helped with images and graphs aimed at improving the comprehension.

Assessment methods

The final exam aims at verifying the student’s knowledge and understanding of the topics explained during the lessons, and their skills of organizing the answers (distinguishing the main, fundamental points from second-order details) and expressing them-selves using appropriate (scientific) language.

It is an oral exam, typically lasting 30 minutes. During the first 10 minutes, the students will be asked to discuss a topic on their own choice. The main purpose is to verify the student's ability to explain in a clear, synthetic and well-organized manner a known topic within the available time slot (10 min). Then, they will be asked to answer to 4-5 more questions on the entire program discussed during the lessons.

The final grade will be set based on the following scheme:

• grade=18-21: the knowledge is limited to just a small sub-sample of topics and the student answers to the questions only with a substantial help from the teacher

• grade=22-25: the knowledge concerns a larger number of topics, and the student answers the questions with some teacher help

• grade=26-28: the student is able to discuss most of the topics and answer the questions with good autonomy and critical sense, showing some uncertainties only on second-order points

• grade=29-30L: the student shows solid and deep knowledge and excellent understanding of all the topics, answering to all questions readily and with very good mastery of the scientific terminology

During the exam, students are not allowed to use notes and books.

Students with learning disabilities or temporary or permanent disabilities: please contact the relevant University office promptly (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en). The office will advise students of possible adjustments, that will be submitted to the professor for approval 15 days in advance. The professor will evaluate their suitability also in relation to the academic objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

Lectures are performed with power-point presentations. The slides are updated and made available to the students on the dedicated web site "Virtuale UniBO" of the Bologna University.

Office hours

See the website of Barbara Lanzoni