JCA: Graduate Education

Joint Center for Astrophysics

JCA Info
News
Mission
Research
Publications
Personnel
Employment
Funding
Reports
[For Internal Use]
Computing
Forms & Docs
Useful Links

JCA Facilities
Telescope

JCA Education
U/graduate
Graduate

JCA Outreach etc
Open Houses
Getting here

PHYS632
The Physics of Astrophysics II
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: PHYS631.

Overview

The course follows on from PHYS631, and provides an introduction to gas dynamics within astrophysical environments. The focus is on the interactions of matter & radiation with electromagnetic fields on macroscopic scales. Topics include single-fluid theory, differential motion, equilibria of self-gravitating masses &gravitational collapse, viscosity & fluid instabilities, shears, turbulence & shocks, magnetohydrodynamics and plasma physics. These physical processes will be illustrated using recent results from the astrophysical literature, and will include galaxy formation, star-formation, giant planets & neutron stars, viscous accretion disks in both galactic & extragalactic objects, the ionization fronts in expanding HII regions, blast waves from supernova remnants, solar flares and MHD flows from accretion disks.

Course Objectives

The primary academic objects of the course are

To provide the student a broad understanding of the physics underlying the interactions between matter and radiation within astrophysical environments.
To introduce the student to the professional astrophysical literature
To introduce the student to the various techniques and tools used in modern astrophysics and astronomy

Outline Syllabus

Review of Fluid Mechanics & Kinetic Theory
Diffusive Transport Basics
Fluids as Continua
Self-Gravitating Spherical Masses
Viscous-free, Barotropic Flows
Viscous Accretion Disks
Fluid Instabilities, Viscous Shears, Turbulence and Convection
Propagation, Dispersion & Amplification of Spiral Density Waves
Supersonic Flows & Shock Waves
Ionization Fronts and Expanding HII Regions
Survey of Magnetohydrodynamics & Plasma Physics for Astrophysics
Course Review

Previous Runs of this Course

2006 Fall

[TBD]