Structure and Evolution of Stars

6 EC

Semester 1, period 2

5214STES6Y

Owner Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree)
Coordinator dr. S.G.M. Toonen
Part of Master Physics and Astronomy, track GRAPPA, Master Physics and Astronomy, track Astronomy and Astrophysics, Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree), track General Physics and Astronomy,

Course manual 2021/2022

Course content

These lectures give an overview of the basic physical processes that occur inside stars: the sources of pressure (gas/radiation/degeneracy pressures), energy transport (radiation/convection), and nuclear processes.  This understanding is combined with the equations of stellar structure and evolution and used to understand the life of stars: from star formation in interstellar clouds all the way to the terminal phases of stellar evolution (white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes).  We will solve simple models analytically and numerically, and apply this knowledge to interpreting and understanding the observed properties of stars using tools such as the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.  We also study binary evolution and the effects of mass transfer (mass loss and accretion) on the stars in those binaries. 

Study materials

Literature

  • Understanding Stellar Evolution by Henny Lamers and Emily Levesque. (freely available through the library) 

Syllabus

  • Onno Pols' lecture notes on Stellar Evolution (Link with PDF on Canvas)

  • Frank Verbunt' lecture notes on binaries (Link with PDF on Canvas)

  • Onno Pols' lecture notes on binaries (Link with PDF on Canvas)

Other

  • Assignments and additional notes on Blackboard.

Objectives

  • Analyse and Evaluate the physics behind the stellar structure and evolutionary equations.
  • Demonstrate insight in and evaluate current state-of-the-art of the research field
  • Become familiar with the Stellar evolutionary code MESA to solve and analyse the stellar evolution equations applied in different cases.

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Seminar

Lectures and exercises.

Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours

Zelfstudie

168

Attendance

Requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

  • In addition to, or instead of, classes in the form of lectures, the elements of the master’s examination programme often include a practical component as defined in article A-1.2 of part A. The course catalogue contains information on the types of classes in each part of the programme. Attendance during practical components is mandatory.

    • Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    0.75 (75%)

    Tentamen

    		Mandatory

    0.25 (25%)

    MESA computer lab + report

    		Mandatory

    Minimum grade of 5 for each part to pass

    Assignments

    Tutorial exercises

    • non-assessed exercises 

    MESA project

    • Computer lab with the stellar evolution code MESA. Assessed assignment. 25% of final grade. Deadline: December 14 @ 17.00. No retakes. 

    Fraud and plagiarism

    The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

    Course structure

    Weeknummer Onderwerpen Studiestof: Pols' SSE Verbunt' BSE Pols' BSE Lamers (optional) MESA
    1 Intro, hydrostatic equilibrium, virial theorem   Ch. 1, 2.1-2.3     Ch. 1,2,3 Start installation
    2 Equation of state, opacity, radiative transport   Ch. 3, 5.3     Ch.4,5  
    3 Energy transport, timescales , mesa workshop   Ch. 2.4, 4, 5.5, 7     Ch. 4.8, 7,9,10,11 Mesa workshop in tutorial lecture
    4 Nuclear burning, star formation, evolution in the HR   Ch. 6,8,9,10     Ch. 8, 12,13,14, Mesa assignment
    5 Post-ms evolution, binary orbits   Ch. 11, 12 Ch. 2, 3   Ch. 16-19  
    6 Binary evolution       Ch. 6,7,8,9,10 Ch. 28 Deadline MESA assignment
    7 Revision lecture + guest lecture            
    8 Exam            

    Timetable

    The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

    Additional information

    Recommended prior knowledge: Elementary radiative transfer.

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • dr. S.G.M. Toonen