General Astrophysics 2
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Relying on the notions introduced in the course General Astrophysics I, this course
has the objective of providing the students with an overview of galactic
and extragalactic astrophysics, as well as of the main observationa
techniques used across the electromagnetic spectrum for ground and space
observations. An introduction is provided to the physical properties of
the interstellar medium, the dynamics of stellar clusters and of the
Milky Way, the properties of external galaxies, active galaxies and
galaxy clusters, as well as of the basics of big bang cosmology. At the
end the course comes back to the smaller scale of our Solar System, and
provides an updated discussion of extrasolar planets and their
implications for astrobiology.
has the objective of providing the students with an overview of galactic
and extragalactic astrophysics, as well as of the main observationa
techniques used across the electromagnetic spectrum for ground and space
observations. An introduction is provided to the physical properties of
the interstellar medium, the dynamics of stellar clusters and of the
Milky Way, the properties of external galaxies, active galaxies and
galaxy clusters, as well as of the basics of big bang cosmology. At the
end the course comes back to the smaller scale of our Solar System, and
provides an updated discussion of extrasolar planets and their
implications for astrobiology.
Expected learning outcomes
Students at the end of the course are expected to reach the following
capabilities:
1. to be able to discuss the main characteristics of the instrumentation
adopted for astrophysical measurements across the electromagnetic
spectrum, from radio to gamma rays
2. to gain familiarity with different types of stellar clusters, their
dynamic, the information that can be extracted from an HR diagram
3. to be able to use the notions of interstellar extintion in distance
measurements, as well as to discuss the fundamental properties of the
gas and dust components of the interstellar medium
4. to be able to discuss the structure of our own Galaxy, its
diferential rotation, the evidence for a supermassive black hole at its
centre, the evidence of dark matter in the Galactic halo
5. to be able to classity galaxy, discuss star formation, as well as the
presence of dark matter form rotation curves, the nature and properties
of active agalactic nuclei
6. to be ale to discuss the physics of galaxy clusters, the evidence of
intracluster hot gas from X-ray observations
7. to acquire an initial vision of cosmology in the expanding universe,
including the basics of large scale distribution of matter and of cosmic
microwave background observations
8. to be able to discuss the main properties of our Solar System,
including the Earth-Moon system, terrestrial and giant planets, icy objects
9. to gain awareness of the current frontiers in the study of extrasolar
planets, including the data available on planets mass, density,
eccentricity, distance from central star, as well as of the implications
for potential life-supporting physical conditions
capabilities:
1. to be able to discuss the main characteristics of the instrumentation
adopted for astrophysical measurements across the electromagnetic
spectrum, from radio to gamma rays
2. to gain familiarity with different types of stellar clusters, their
dynamic, the information that can be extracted from an HR diagram
3. to be able to use the notions of interstellar extintion in distance
measurements, as well as to discuss the fundamental properties of the
gas and dust components of the interstellar medium
4. to be able to discuss the structure of our own Galaxy, its
diferential rotation, the evidence for a supermassive black hole at its
centre, the evidence of dark matter in the Galactic halo
5. to be able to classity galaxy, discuss star formation, as well as the
presence of dark matter form rotation curves, the nature and properties
of active agalactic nuclei
6. to be ale to discuss the physics of galaxy clusters, the evidence of
intracluster hot gas from X-ray observations
7. to acquire an initial vision of cosmology in the expanding universe,
including the basics of large scale distribution of matter and of cosmic
microwave background observations
8. to be able to discuss the main properties of our Solar System,
including the Earth-Moon system, terrestrial and giant planets, icy objects
9. to gain awareness of the current frontiers in the study of extrasolar
planets, including the data available on planets mass, density,
eccentricity, distance from central star, as well as of the implications
for potential life-supporting physical conditions
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
1) Astronomical instrumentation
- Optical telescopes. Effective area, angular resolution. Seeing. Refracting and reflecting telescopes. Spectroscopy. Ground-based observatories. Hubble Space Telescope.
- "Below the visible." IR and sub-mm astronomy. Microwave observations. Radio astronomy. Ground-based experiments and observations. Space missions.
- "Above the visible." UV observations. X-ray astronomy. Gamma-ray astronomy. High-energy space telescopes. Space missions.
2) The Milky Way
- Star clusters. Types of clusters. Star cluster dynamics. HR diagram for clusters. Stellar populations.
- The interstellar medium. Interstellar extinction. Polarization. Scattering and absorption. Interstellar dust. Grain physics. Interstellar gas. Interstellar molecules. Chemistry of the interstellar medium.
- Our galaxy. Galactic differential rotation. Mass distribution. Milky Way rotation curve. Distribution of galactic gas. The galactic center. The central supermassive black hole.
3) Extragalactic astronomy and cosmology
- Normal galaxies. Classification. Star formation in galaxies. Spiral structure. Dark matter in galaxies.
- Galaxy clusters, large-scale structure. Galaxy distribution. Cluster dynamics. Hubble's law and the expansion of the universe. Superclusters and voids. Sky Surveys.
- Active galaxies. Discovery and observations. Radio galaxies. Quasars. Black holes and active galactic nuclei (AGN).
- Cosmology. Expansion. Cosmological redshift. Acceleration. Friedmann models. Cosmological parameters. Cosmic Microwave Background. Open problems.
4) Solar System and exoplanets
- The Earth-Moon system. Earth as a planet. Plate tectonics. Earth's atmosphere. Magnetosphere. Tides. The Moon: origin and structure. Open questions.
- The Solar System. Rocky planets and gas giants. Surface, atmosphere, internal structure. Rings. Satellites. Minor bodies of the Solar System. Origin of the Solar System.
- Exoplanets and astrobiology. Primitive Earth. Stability of terrestrial conditions. Possibility of life elsewhere in the Solar System. Extrasolar planets. Habitable zone. Space missions. Perspectives.
- Optical telescopes. Effective area, angular resolution. Seeing. Refracting and reflecting telescopes. Spectroscopy. Ground-based observatories. Hubble Space Telescope.
- "Below the visible." IR and sub-mm astronomy. Microwave observations. Radio astronomy. Ground-based experiments and observations. Space missions.
- "Above the visible." UV observations. X-ray astronomy. Gamma-ray astronomy. High-energy space telescopes. Space missions.
2) The Milky Way
- Star clusters. Types of clusters. Star cluster dynamics. HR diagram for clusters. Stellar populations.
- The interstellar medium. Interstellar extinction. Polarization. Scattering and absorption. Interstellar dust. Grain physics. Interstellar gas. Interstellar molecules. Chemistry of the interstellar medium.
- Our galaxy. Galactic differential rotation. Mass distribution. Milky Way rotation curve. Distribution of galactic gas. The galactic center. The central supermassive black hole.
3) Extragalactic astronomy and cosmology
- Normal galaxies. Classification. Star formation in galaxies. Spiral structure. Dark matter in galaxies.
- Galaxy clusters, large-scale structure. Galaxy distribution. Cluster dynamics. Hubble's law and the expansion of the universe. Superclusters and voids. Sky Surveys.
- Active galaxies. Discovery and observations. Radio galaxies. Quasars. Black holes and active galactic nuclei (AGN).
- Cosmology. Expansion. Cosmological redshift. Acceleration. Friedmann models. Cosmological parameters. Cosmic Microwave Background. Open problems.
4) Solar System and exoplanets
- The Earth-Moon system. Earth as a planet. Plate tectonics. Earth's atmosphere. Magnetosphere. Tides. The Moon: origin and structure. Open questions.
- The Solar System. Rocky planets and gas giants. Surface, atmosphere, internal structure. Rings. Satellites. Minor bodies of the Solar System. Origin of the Solar System.
- Exoplanets and astrobiology. Primitive Earth. Stability of terrestrial conditions. Possibility of life elsewhere in the Solar System. Extrasolar planets. Habitable zone. Space missions. Perspectives.
Prerequisites for admission
It is assumed that the "Laurea Triennale" in Physics has been completed and that the "Astrofisica generale I" has been attended, or an equivalent background.
Teaching methods
Lectures on theory with examples and exercises. Attendance is highly recommended.
Teaching Resources
The teaching materials used (slides, articles) are made available to students on the Ariel site after each lesson. Several textbooks are recommended for the different parts of the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination is an oral interview. A critical understanding of the topics covered is required, including the ability to discuss situations not directly presented in class within a guided dialogue.
FIS/05 - ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours
Professors:
Bersanelli Marco Rinaldo Fedele, Tomasi Maurizio
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Ask the teacher
Laboratorio di Strumentazione Spaziale, Department of physics (via Celoria 16, Milano)