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ASTRONOMY 300B: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Part II Prof. J. Bechtold COURSE OUTLINE (Probably will be modified as we go along) 1. Random Walks Binomial, poisson, gaussian distributions; mean, variance Propagation of Errors 2. Radiative Transfer Basic terminology: Inu,Jnu,tau flux from a uniformly bright sphere equation of radiative transfer optical depth, mean-free-path, source function radiation force Eddington limit Lyman limit absorption Thermodynamic equilibrium Blackbody radiation: Planck Law, Stefan-Boltzman Law, Wien displacement law T(Brightness), T(color), T(eff) Einstein Coefficients, detailed balance 3. Review of Electricity and Magnetism Basic Laws of EM forces; Lorentz force Vector arithmetic and vector calculus -- formalism Maxwell's Equations Conservation of charge Poynting Vector; Poynting Theorem Wave equations; complex solutions Phase, group velocity Fourier transforms 4. Polarization Definitions, descriptions: elliptical, linear, circular Stokes parameters Sources of polarization Polarimeters Polarizers, birefringent materials, Wollaston prisms, retarders 5. EM Potentials: Gauge transformations retarded potentials Lienard-Wiechert Potentials (moving charge) velocity and radiation fields Larmor's formula dipole approximation, dipole moment, emitted power 6. Thomson Scattering power formula Thomson cross-section: as function of Omega, polarization 7. Radiation Reaction force Equation of motion Radiation from a harmonically bound particle: undriven, driven Rayleigh scattering Absorption lines: curve of growth Observations of UV absorption lines in ISM 8. Special relativity Intertial reference frame, events, observers Galilean transformations Lorentz transformations Length contraction, time dilation Relativity of simultaneity Cosmic Ray meson decay Transformation of velocities, accelerations Aberration of starlight Beaming Doppler Effect Proper time, space-time diagrams Size constraints from variability Superluminal expansion 4-vectors, tensors, covariant/contravariant vectors, notation The Minkowski metric 4-current, 4-potential Transformation of Maxwell's equations, B, E-fields Field of a relativisitically moving charge Bessel Functions Relativisitic Mechanics: Emission from relativistic, accelerating particle Transforming the equation of radiative transfer Lorentz invariants dipole of Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation 9. Bremsstrahlung Qualitative picture Emission from a single charge Gaunt factors Thermal bremsstrahlung: spectrum free-free absorption X-ray observations of halos of Early type galaxies hot intracluster medium in clusters of galaxies, cooling flows Relation of hot ICM and galactic HI 10. Cyclotron and Synchrotron Helical motion power of cyclotron radiation from charge in B field spectrum of synchrotron vs cyclotron spectrum for power law energy distribution of electrons polarization synchrotron self-absorption extragalactic radio sources: normal galaxies, radio galaxies, high redshift radio galaxies, active nuclei, jets 11. Compton Scattering Compton wavelength Klein-Nishima cross-section Inverse Compton scattering Compton heating the Compton catastrophe Spectrum of inverse Compton radiation 12. Plasma Astrophysics Plasma Frequency Faraday Rotation Cherenkov Radiation 13. Atomic Structure Hydrogenic Atom Many-electron atoms, LS Coupling Term Diagrams, Perturbations Zeeman Effect 14. Radiative Transitions The Dipole Approximation Selection Rules Forbidden Lines, Critical Density Recombination Lines Bound-Free Transitions Bound-Bound Transitions Line Broadening 15. Molecular Spectra Born-Oppenheimer H2, CO Pure Rotational Spectra Rotation-Vibration Spectra Electronic-Rotational-Vibrational Spectra Suggestions for additional topics are welcome!