Table of Contents

AST 301: Introduction to Astrophysics

Co-offered with PHY 432

1. Rationale

The course gives an overall introduction to astrophysics using the physics of stars and radiation. First half of the course deals with the structure and evolution of stars, and the second half with different types of astrophysical radiation.

2. Content

# Chapter Week
1 Stars in equilibrium 1-5
2 States of stellar matter 5,6
3 Structure of a star 6,7
4 Evolution of a star 7,8
5 Bremsstrahlung radiation 9
6 Blackbody radiation 10
7 Synchrotron radiation 11
8 Hydrogen spin-flip radiation 12

3. Assessment

Attendance 10
Punctuality 10
Quizzes 15
Midterm viva 20
Final project 15
Final viva 30

4. Textbooks

  1. Hale Bradt, Astrophysics Processes, Cambridge UP, 2008.
  2. Carroll & Ostlie, An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, Cambridge UP, 2017.