Stars and Star Formation - ASTR. 403/Phys. 402
Spring 2017
COURSE DESCRIPTION

Welcome to Astrophysics 403 - Stars and Star Formation (Part II).

GENERAL INFORMATION

Class Meets: Monday and Wednesday, 1:30 - 2:50 p.m. (plus backup days and times), Peyton Hall Rm. 140.

Professor: Adam Burrows

                    
                    Office:        Peyton Hall, Rm. 105
                    Phone:         609-258-3590
                    Office Hours:  MWF 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., or by appointment
                    email:         burrows@astro.princeton.edu 
                    WWW:           Class Web Page: http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~burrows/classes/403
                    Also:          Webpage for Part I of Course (Bruce Draine)

Prerequisites: A general knowledge of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy



Course Description: This course surveys the essential physics of stellar structure, interiors, and evolution. The emphasis is on the physical and dynamical processes in stars, on the equations of stellar structure and evolution, on their approximate solution, and on stellar systematics. To that end, we focus on timescales, polytropes, energetics, scaling relations, thermodynamics and equations of state, radiative transfer and opacities, convection theory, nuclear reactions and rates, nucleosynthesis, white dwarf and neutron star structure, stellar endpoints, and the various distinctive stellar phases. Moreover, since astrophysicists should be trained as generalists, we will aim throughout the course to impart a better physical and intuitive understanding of the essential meaning of the equations, processes, and principles that govern stars of all sort, and of their universality.


Textbook:

Textbook for the course: Stellar Structure and Evolution, 2nd. Edition (by R. Kippenhahn, A. Weigert, and A. Weiss)

Go to http://catalog.princeton.edu. Search for "kippenhahn". Then 1) check the Kippenhahn, Weigert, and Weiss 2nd Edition box, and 2) check the online field for that book. You should get the chapter-by-chapter version, each chapter of which is downloadable. However, the top of the page allows you to download the entire book. Do so.


Other Textbooks and Supporting Materials


Syllabus


Class Notes



Reading Assignments


Homework: Homework will be due Wednesdays, approximately once every week (see Syllabus). Late homeworks will not be accepted.

Homework Assignments


Examinations and Grading: The grade for this course will be based upon performance on the assigned homeworks (40%), a midterm test (30%), and a final exam (30%). The course will be graded on a curve. Class participation will be factored in. The mid-term and final examinations will not be cumulative, and will be in-class.


Last modified: Tuesday, January 10, 2017