ASTR 504: Spring 2024

Course Schedule and Readings

Lecture material may vary, but due dates are fixed. Visit this page for updates.

The webpages for all class meetings will be stored here; each page includes the lecture notes for that class. You are encouraged to come here to review the topics covered, the images shown, and to follow the links to further information.

Readings are from the course text, Stellar Structure and Evolution, by Kipppenhahn, Weigert, and Weiss (2020).

Date Topic Reading Class Mode Assignment Due
Wed Jan 17 Introduction Zoom
Fri Jan 19 The Stars Observed Zoom
Mon Jan 22 The Stars Observed Zoom
Wed Jan 24 The Stars Observed Zoom
Fri Jan 26 The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram Zoom Problem Set 1
Mon Jan 29 Binary Stars as Laboratories In Person
Wed Jan 31 Binary Stars as Laboratories In Person
Fri Feb 2 Stellar Evolution Preview Zoom Problem Set 2
Mon Feb 5 Stellar Structure Overview and Gravitation Zoom
Wed Feb 7 Hydrostatic Equilibrium Zoom
Fri Feb 9 Ideal Gasses and Thermodynamics Zoom Reading 1
Mon Feb 12 The Virial Theorem
Wed Feb 14 Stellar Energy Generation: Sources
Fri Feb 16 Stellar Energy Generation: Nuclear Reactions Problem Set 3
Mon Feb 19 Stellar Energy Generation: Solar Neutrinos In Person
Wed Feb 21 Hydrogen Burning in Stars In Person
Fri Feb 23 Evolution Along the Main Sequence Problem Set 4
Mon Feb 26 Energy Generation and Transport in Stars
Wed Feb 28 Radiative Energy Transport
Fri Mar 1 Main Sequence Evolution: Hydrogen Exhaustion Reading 2
Mon Mar 4 Main Sequence Evolution: Hydrogen Exhaustion
Wed Mar 6 Quantum Effects in Stellar Matter
Fri Mar 8 Degenerate Gasses Problem Set 5
Mar 11 - 15 No Class Meeting--Spring Break
Mon Mar 18 Degenerate Stars: White Dwarfs
Wed Mar 20 The Chandrasekhar Limit
Fri Mar 22 Star Formation Problem Set 6
Mon Mar 25 Low Mass Stars: Beyond the Main Sequence In Person
Wed Mar 27 Low Mass Stars: Final Phases In Person
Fri Mar 29 Planetary Nebulae,White Dwarfs, and Intermediate Mass Stars Reading 3
Mon Apr 1 Massive Stars: Late Evolution and Collapse
Wed Apr 3 Supernovae Observed
Fri Apr 5 Supernovae: Aftereffects Problem Set 7
Mon Apr 8 No Class--Go see the eclipse!
Wed Apr 10 Neutron Stars and Pulsars
Fri Apr 12 Core Collapse Supernovae Problem Set 8
Mon Apr 15 Core-Collapse Supernovae In Person
Wed Apr 17 Pulsars In Person
Fri Apr 19 Neutron Stars Reading 4
Mon Apr 22 Binary Stars
Wed Apr 24 Binaries: Type Ia Supernovae
Fri Apr 26 No Class--go to Astrofest! Problem Set 9
Mon Apr 29 Gamma-Ray Bursts In Person
Wed May 1 Population Synthesis In Person
Mon May 6 Wikipedia Edit Due