Difference between revisions of "Radiative Processes in Astrophysics"

Revision as of 13:10, 20 August 2021

An introduction to the basic physics of astronomy and astrophysics at the graduate level. Principles of energy transfer by radiation. Elements of classical and quantum theory of photon emission; bremsstrahlung, synchrotron radiation. Compton scattering, plasma effects, atomic and molecular electromagnetic transitions. With applications to current research into astrophysical phenomena.

These are a collection of lectures covering topics in an introductory graduate astrophysics course on radiative processes. The subject matter is loosely drawn from Radiative Processes in Astrophysics by Rybicki & Lightman.

At the end of the semester, each student will develop one new lecture on a subject of their choice to add to this website.

Class Code Repository

http://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207

Syllabus

Useful External References

Rybicki and Lightman, Radiative Processes in Astrophysics (course reference)
Mihalas and Mihalas, Foundations of Radiation Hydrodynamics
Osterbrock and Ferland, Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae and Active Galactic Nuclei
Shu, 'The Physics of Astrophysics, Volume I: Radiation
Longair, High Energy Astrophysics
Mihalas, Stellar Atmospheres
Rutten, Radiative Transfer in Stellar Atmospheres
Eddie Baron's GRK Lectures on Radiation Transport
Tony Readhead's Notes
Feynman's Lectures on Physics, Volume II

Topics by Date

(Aug. 26) Radiative Quantities (RL 1.1-1.3; Mil 1.1-1.3)

class mechanics
- syllabus
- references
  - Rybicki & Lightman
  - Astrobaki: learn better by teaching
- tools for figuring stuff out
  - theoretical derivation
  - order-of-magnitude estimation
  - physical intuition (hands-on modeling, analogies)
  - numerical simulation
- programming
  - Python Installation and Basic Programming
  - Revision Control (class repository)
  - Jupyter Notebooks (for visualizations and collaborating)
Topics
- Specific Intensity
Activities
- convert photon number density to specific intensity

(Sep. 14) semi-classical hydrogen

Topics:
- Classical Bohr Atom
Activities
- Activity Sheet 6 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- rederivation
- Rydberg
- dipoles/quadrupoles
Problem Set 3 Assigned

(Sep. 16) Einstein coefficients

Topics:
- Einstein Coefficients
- Radiative Equilibrium
Activities
- Activity Sheet 7 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- estimating Einstein A for Ly-alpha
- effective photon absorption crosssection

(Sep. 21) spectral line broadening

Topics
- Line Profile Functions
- Zeeman splitting
Activities
- Activity Sheet 8 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- what can you learn from a spectral line
Problem Set 4 Assigned

(Sep. 23) radiation from accelerating charges (RL 3.3-3.4)

Topics
- Estimating Atomic Transition Strengths
- radiative dipole transitions
- photoexcitation cross-section
Activities
- Activity Sheet 9 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- Einstein A for He+

(Sep. 28) molecular lines (RL 11)

Topics
- Atomic and Molecular Quantum Numbers
- Rotational Transitions
Activities
- CO Lecture
No Problem Set this week

(Sep. 30) rovibrational transitions (RL 11)

Topics
- Rovibrational Transitions
Activities
- Activity Sheet 11 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- Cooling with CO

(Oct. 5) masers

Topics
- Masers
Activities
- masers as transistors
- laser pointers
Problem Set 5 assigned

(Oct. 7) collisional excitations

Topics:
- Detailed Balance
- Collisional Excitations
Activities
- Activity Sheet 12 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- more CO molecular clouds
- collisional line-driven cooling

(Oct. 12) free-free emission

Topics
- Thermal Bremsstrahlung (RL 5.1-5.3)
- Opacity
- Kramer's Opacity
Activities
- free-free polarization
- simulating a free-free interaction
Problem Set 6 assigned

(Oct. 14) charged cross-sections (RL 1.7-1.8; Mil 2.3-2.5)

Topics:
- Coulomb Focusing
- Thomson Scattering
Activities
- Activity Sheet 13 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- electrons in the IGM

(Oct. 19) bound-free transitions

Topics
- Milne Relation
- Saha Equation
Activities
- stromgren spheres
Problem Set 7 assigned

(Oct. 21) LTE and non-LTE

Topics
- Recombination Coefficients
- Review of Equilibria
Activities
- Activity Sheet 14 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- estimating recombination coefficients
- work out in detail redshift of recombination

(Oct. 26) plasma effects

Topics
- Plasma Frequency
- dispersion measure (RL 8.1)
- polarization
- Faraday rotation (RL 8.1-8.2)
- Stokes parameters
Activities
- start de-dispersion coding
Problem Set 8 assigned
- pulsar.dat

(Oct. 28) compton scattering

Topics
- Lorentz transformations
- Doppler shift
- radiation from relativistic charges (RL 4.1, 4.2, 4.8; Grif 10.1)
- Compton Scattering
Activities
- Activity Sheet 15 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- relativistic intuition, velocity raptor
- CMB coupling via compton

(Nov. 2) Inverse Compton scattering

Topics:
- Inverse Compton Scattering
- SZ Effect (RL 7.1-7.5)
Activities
- single scattering versus ensemble scattering
- compton saturation
No problem set

(Nov. 4) Synchrotron Introduction

Topics:
- Introduction to Synchrotron Radiation and Relativistic Beaming
Activities
- Activity Sheet 16 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- beaming, superluminal motion, monte carlo compton

(Nov. 9) Synchrotron Radiation

Topics
- Synchrotron Radiation
Activities
- re-deriving synchrotron spectrum
- phenomenological description of synchrotron decay
Problem Set 9 assigned

(Nov. 11) No Class (Veterans day)

(Nov. 16) Synchrotron Self-Interactions

Topics
- Synchrotron Self-Interactions
Activities
- Activity Sheet 17 (on datahub.berkeley.edu)
- reading SSC spectra, inferring castrophe

(Nov. 18) dust and grains

Topics:
- Dust Absorption and Scattering
- dust formation/sublimation
- Poynting-Robertson Effect
Activities
Problem Set 10 assigned

(Nov. 23) No Class

(Nov. 25) No Class

(Dec. 1) radiative diffusion

Topics:
- Radiative Diffusion
- bolometric radiative equilibrium
- greenhouse effect
Activities

(Dec. 2) Review

Review

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 == Topics by Date ==
-====(Aug. 27) Radiative Quantities (RL 1.1-1.3; Mil 1.1-1.3)====
+====(Aug. 26) Radiative Quantities (RL 1.1-1.3; Mil 1.1-1.3)====
 * class mechanics
 ** syllabus
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ** convert photon number density to specific intensity
-====(Sep. 1) radiative transport (RL 1.4; Mil 2.1-2.2)====
+====(Aug. 31) radiative transport (RL 1.4; Mil 2.1-2.2)====
 * Topics
 ** [[Radiative Transfer Equation]]
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 ** [https://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207/blob/main/bessel_V.dat bessel_V.dat]
-==== (Sep. 3) Maxwell's Equations and Plane Waves ====
+==== (Sep. 2) Maxwell's Equations and Plane Waves ====
 * Topics
 ** [[Maxwell Equations]] for Electromagnetic Waves
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 ** Impedance of free space
-====(Sep. 8) scattering and absorption (RL 1.4, 1.7; Mil 2.1-2.2)====
+====(Sep. 7) scattering and absorption (RL 1.4, 1.7; Mil 2.1-2.2)====
 * Topics:
 ** [[Basic Scattering]]
@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 * [https://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207/blob/main/ps_2020/ps02.pdf Problem Set 2] Assigned
-==== (Sep. 10) thermodynamic equilibrium (RL 1.5)  ====
+==== (Sep. 9) thermodynamic equilibrium (RL 1.5)  ====
 * Topics
 ** [[Black-Body Radiation]] (and Kirchoff's Law)
@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 ** types of temperature
-==== (Sep. 15) semi-classical hydrogen ====
+==== (Sep. 14) semi-classical hydrogen ====
 * Topics:
 ** [[Classical Bohr Atom]]
@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 * [https://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207/blob/main/ps_2020/ps03.pdf Problem Set 3] Assigned
-====  (Sep. 17) Einstein coefficients====
+====  (Sep. 16) Einstein coefficients====
 * Topics:
 ** [[Einstein Coefficients]]
@@ Line 113: / Line 113: @@
 ** effective photon absorption crosssection
-==== (Sep. 22) spectral line broadening====
+==== (Sep. 21) spectral line broadening====
 * Topics
 ** [[Line Profile Functions]]
@@ Line 122: / Line 122: @@
 * [https://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207/blob/main/ps_2020/ps04.pdf Problem Set 4] Assigned
-==== (Sep. 24) radiation from accelerating charges (RL 3.3-3.4)====
+==== (Sep. 23) radiation from accelerating charges (RL 3.3-3.4)====
 * Topics
 ** [[Estimating Atomic Transition Strengths]]
@@ Line 131: / Line 131: @@
 ** Einstein A for He+
-==== (Sep. 29) molecular lines (RL 11) ====
+==== (Sep. 28) molecular lines (RL 11) ====
 * Topics
 ** [[Atomic and Molecular Quantum Numbers]]
@@ Line 139: / Line 139: @@
 * No Problem Set this week
-==== (Oct. 1) rovibrational transitions (RL 11) ====
+==== (Sep. 30) rovibrational transitions (RL 11) ====
 * Topics
 ** [[Rovibrational Transitions]]
@@ Line 146: / Line 146: @@
 ** Cooling with CO
-====(Oct. 6)  masers ====
+====(Oct. 5)  masers ====
 * Topics
 ** [[Masers]]
@@ Line 154: / Line 154: @@
 * [https://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207/blob/main/ps_2020/ps05.pdf Problem Set 5] assigned
-==== (Oct. 8) collisional excitations ====
+==== (Oct. 7) collisional excitations ====
 * Topics:
 ** [[Detailed Balance]]
@@ Line 163: / Line 163: @@
 ** collisional line-driven cooling
-==== (Oct. 13) free-free emission====
+==== (Oct. 12) free-free emission====
 * Topics
 ** [[Thermal Bremsstrahlung]] (RL 5.1-5.3)
@@ Line 173: / Line 173: @@
 * [https://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207/blob/main/ps_2020/ps06.pdf Problem Set 6] assigned
-==== (Oct. 15) charged cross-sections (RL 1.7-1.8; Mil 2.3-2.5)====
+==== (Oct. 14) charged cross-sections (RL 1.7-1.8; Mil 2.3-2.5)====
 * Topics:
 ** [[Coulomb Focusing]]
@@ Line 181: / Line 181: @@
 ** electrons in the IGM
-==== (Oct. 20) bound-free transitions ====
+==== (Oct. 19) bound-free transitions ====
 * Topics
 ** [[Milne Relation]]
@@ Line 189: / Line 189: @@
 * [https://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207/blob/main/ps_2020/ps07.pdf Problem Set 7] assigned
-==== (Oct. 22) LTE and non-LTE ====
+==== (Oct. 21) LTE and non-LTE ====
 * Topics
 ** [[Recombination Coefficients]]
@@ Line 198: / Line 198: @@
 ** work out in detail redshift of recombination
-==== (Oct. 27)  plasma effects====
+==== (Oct. 26)  plasma effects====
 * Topics
 ** [[Plasma Frequency]]
@@ Line 210: / Line 210: @@
 ** [https://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207/blob/main/pulsar.dat pulsar.dat]
-====  (Oct. 29) compton scattering ====
+====  (Oct. 28) compton scattering ====
 * Topics
 ** [[Lorentz transformations]]
@@ Line 221: / Line 221: @@
 ** CMB coupling via compton
-==== (Nov. 3) Inverse Compton scattering====
+==== (Nov. 2) Inverse Compton scattering====
 * Topics:
 ** [[Inverse Compton Scattering]]
@@ Line 229: / Line 229: @@
 ** compton saturation
 * No problem set
-==== (Nov. 5) Synchrotron Introduction ====
+==== (Nov. 4) Synchrotron Introduction ====
 * Topics:
 ** [[Introduction to Synchrotron Radiation and Relativistic Beaming]]
@@ Line 238: / Line 239: @@
 ** beaming, superluminal motion, monte carlo compton
-==== (Nov. 10) Synchrotron Radiation ====
+==== (Nov. 9) Synchrotron Radiation ====
 * Topics
 ** [[Synchrotron Radiation]]
@@ Line 249: / Line 250: @@
 * [https://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207/blob/main/ps_2020/ps09.pdf Problem Set 9] assigned
-==== (Nov. 12)  Synchrotron Self-Interactions ====
+==== (Nov. 11) No Class (Veterans day) ====
+==== (Nov. 16)  Synchrotron Self-Interactions ====
 * Topics
 ** [[Synchrotron Self-Interactions]]
@@ Line 258: / Line 261: @@
 ** reading SSC spectra, inferring castrophe
-====  (Nov. 17) dust and grains====
+====  (Nov. 18) dust and grains====
 * Topics:
 ** [[Dust Absorption and Scattering]]
@@ Line 266: / Line 269: @@
 * [https://github.com/AaronParsons/astro207/blob/main/ps_2020/ps10.pdf Problem Set 10] assigned
-==== (Nov. 19) radiative diffusion ====
+==== (Nov. 23) No Class ====
+==== (Nov. 25) No Class ====
+==== (Dec. 1) radiative diffusion ====
 * Topics:
 ** [[Radiative Diffusion]]
@@ Line 274: / Line 281: @@
 **
-==== (Nov. 24) No Class ====
+==== (Dec. 2) Review ====
-==== (Nov. 26) No Class ====
-==== (Dec. 1) Review 1 ====
-* Review
-==== (Dec. 3) Review 2 ====
 * Review