411 Phys - Astrophysics (1)

This course is one of the elective courses offered at Level 7, providing students with an in-depth introduction to the structure and evolution of stars. The course aims to develop a solid conceptual and physical understanding of stellar properties and the processes governing stellar lifecycles.

The course begins with the study of basic stellar characteristics, including apparent and absolute magnitude, luminosity, and stellar distances, with emphasis on stellar parallax and methods for determining stellar velocities. Students are introduced to stellar spectra and spectral classification, highlighting their role in determining stellar temperatures, compositions, and motions.

A core component of the course is the Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) diagram, which serves as a fundamental tool for understanding stellar populations and evolutionary stages. The course examines binary star systems and demonstrates how binary dynamics provide direct measurements of stellar masses.

The course also covers star formation, tracing the processes from molecular clouds to main-sequence stars. This is followed by a discussion of stellar nuclear reactions, energy generation in stellar interiors, and methods for estimating stellar ages.

Further topics include stellar structure and evolution, focusing on internal stellar structure, energy transport mechanisms, and evolutionary pathways for stars of different masses. The course concludes with the study of star clusters, which are used as natural laboratories for testing theories of stellar evolution.

Overall, the course emphasizes the integration of theoretical principles with observational evidence, the development of physical intuition, and the interpretation of astronomical data. It provides valuable preparation for advanced studies in astrophysics, particularly in stellar and galactic astronomy.