Welcome to the canvas information page for the course

ASTA34: Radiation Processes and Stellar Atmospheres, 7.5 credits

given by the Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics. This year the course will be given on zoom. Please, contact Nils Ryde for more information.

Note: this page contains general information about the course. If you are a student on the course you have to log in to the canvas portal to the left. The course calendar and course stream on this page are not active.

Contents

This course will discuss astrophysical radiation processes and some of its applications, with emphasis on the theory of stellar atmospheres. The goal is to be able to extract astrophysical information from detected radiation, especially stellar spectra.

Nearly all astrophysical information on the Universe is based on the interpretation of radiation from different sources. Therefore, it is of great interest to be able to explain and reflect on how radiation is created and formed and how radiation is transported through a medium and interacts with matter. This is the basis for this course. Of all applications that exist, emphasis will be paid to that of stellar atmospheres.

It will consist of 15 lectures, of which two are specialised on problem solving, three computer labs, one laboratory exercise, and a final exam.

The course is an excellent preparation for Barchelor's and Master's thesis projects in stellar spectroscopy provided by researchers at Lund Observatory.

General information

Semester: spring
Study period: 1
Level: bachelor
Language: English
Form of teaching: lectures, problem solving sessions, laboratory work, and computer exercises
Assessment: written examination and lab reports
Grading scale: U-G-VG
Course plan: in English and in Swedish

Course literature

D.F. Gray: "The Observations and Analysis of Stellar Photospheres", Cambridge (2008)
R.Rutten: Lecture notes "Radiative Transfer in Stellar Atmospheres", which you can find on ADS for free.

Note, that your notes of the lectures and references as we go along will be important.

Teachers

Nils Ryde, ryde@astro.lu.se, phone: 046-222 1574, Office: B257
Brian Thorsbro (lab and exercise instructor) : thorsbro@astro.lu.se, phone: 046 22 21566, Office: B223

Schedule

The schedule for the next instance of the course can be found here.

Application

Through antagning.se