ASTR730 / CSI661 - Fall 2012 |
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Home (Last Modified: Aug. 27, 2012) |
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Syllabus
(print version in PDF)
Prerequisites: PHYS 303 (Classical Mechanics), PHYS 305 (Electromagnetic Theory), PHYS 308 (Modern Physics with Applications); MATH 214 (Elementary Differential Equations) Credits:
3 Location: Room 1108, Nguyen Engineering Building Instructor: Prof. Jie
Zhang Contact Info: (703)993-1998
(phone), jzhang7@gmu.edu (e-mail) Office Hour: 3:00 PM to
4:00 PM, Tuesday, or by appointment Office: Room 351, Research Hall Description: The
general purpose of this course is a survey of
contemporary astrophysics. Topics include physical concepts, stellar
spectra,
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, stellar atmospheres, stellar structure,
interstellar matter, stellar evolution, high-energy phenomena,
hydrodynamical
processes in astrophysics, accretion disk formation, and shock
formation. In
this semester, the class will focus on stellar structure and evolution,
and
stellar atmosphere. Content:
Homework: There will
be weekly
assignment of homework. Each homework consists of 2 to 5 short
questions.
Project: There will
be one
project. Students learn how to use numerical methods to solve physical
equations,
in order to fully model and understand the structure of stars of
different
masses. Exams: There will be one midterm
and one final exam. Exams are of closed-book. Grades: Homework
(30%), Project (20%),
Midterm (20%), Final Exam (30%) Class
URL: http://solar.gmu.edu/teaching/2012_ASTR730/
Text Book (required):
“Physical Principles,
Structure and
Evolution”. by C.J. Hansen, S.D. Kawaler and V. Trimble, 2nd
edition,
Springer-Verlag, 2004. ISBN
978-0-387-20089-7 Supplement Reference Books: ·
“Stellar
Atmosphere: The Observation and Analysis
of Stellar Photospheres”. By David F. Gray. Third Edition, |