Part II Structure and Evolution of Stars
Part II Structure and Evolution of Stars
1. Basic Concepts
Importance of stars in the broader context of modern astrophysics;
The cycle of star formation/evolution; stellar populations in the Galaxy.
Basic properties of stars: mass, temperature, luminosity, gravity, chemical composition, age.
Photometry and colours; spectra and spectral lines.
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram; spectral classfii.cation of stars.
2. Measurements of Stellar Properties, I
Distance: parallax, apparent and absolute magnitudes
Mass: binary stars
Temperature: black body radiation, Wien's Law.
3. Stellar Physics I
Timescales: dynamical, thermal, nuclear
Energy generation: H and He burning; Si burning; r- & s- processes
Degeneracy; Chandrasekar limit
Energy transport: radiative and convective
4. Stellar Physics II
Equations of stellar structure
Hydrostatic equilibrium
Virial theorem
Pressure
Opacity
Stellar properties as a function of mass, homology
5. Stellar Evolution and the H-R diagram
Pre-main sequence evolution, Hayashi and Henyey tracks
Hydrogen and helium main sequences
Post-main sequence evolution: massive stars, supernovae, neutron stars, black holes
Post-main sequence evolution: low mass stars, planetary nebulae, white dwarfs, Type Ia SNae
Initial mass function and its consequences
6. Measurements of Stellar Properties, II
Spectral line opacity and broadening
Curve of growth, abundance analysis
Spectral lines as temperature indicators
Photospheric pressure
Chemical analysis; the solar abundance scale; evolutionary changes
Velocity .fields in stellar photospheres; stellar winds
Books
†Prialnik, D. Introduction to the Theory of Stellar Structure and Evolution, Cambridge University Press (2000).
† Phillips, A.C. The Physics of Stars, Wiley, (1999). Carroll, B.W. & Ostlie, D.A. An introduction to modern astrophysics Addison-Wesley (1996).
Tayler, R.J. The Stars: their structure and evolution, 2nd Edition Cambridge University Press (1994).
Gray, D.F. The Observation and Analysis of Stellar Photospheres 3rd edition CUP
LeBlanc, F. An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics Wiley
