8.284
Modern Astrophysics
Application of physics (Newtonian, statistical, and quantum mechanics; special and general relativity) to fundamental processes that occur in celestial objects. Includes main-sequence stars, collapsed stars (white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes), pulsars, galaxies, active galaxies, quasars, and cosmology. Electromagnetic and gravitational radiation signatures of astrophysical phenomena explored through examination of observational data. No prior knowledge of astronomy required.
Spring 2006
This course explores the applications of physics (Newtonian, statistical, and quantum mechanics) to fundamental processes that occur in celestial objects. The list of topics includes Main-sequence Stars, Collapsed Stars (White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes), Pulsars, Supernovae, the Interstellar Medium, Galaxies, and as time permits, Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Cosmology. Observational data is also discussed.
Readings
- Bohm-Vitense, Erika. Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics . 3 vols. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1989. ISBN: 9780521344029.
- Binney, James, and Scott Tremaine. Galactic Dynamics . Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1987. ISBN: 9780691084442.
- Clayton, Donald D. Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis . Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1983. ISBN: 9780226109534.
- Hansen, Carl J., and Steven D. Kawaler. Stellar Interiors: Physical Principles, Structure, and Evolution . New York, NY: Springer, 2004. ISBN: 9780387200897.
- Shu, Frank H. The Physical Universe . Mill Valley, CA: University Science Books, 1982. ISBN: 9780935702057.
- SES #: 9 · TOPICS: Polytropic stars · READINGS: Clayton. Sections 2-4.
- SES #: 13 · TOPICS: Radiative transport · READINGS: Hansen, and Kawaler. Sections 3.1-3.5 and 7.1-7.2.
- SES #: 16 · TOPICS: Nuclear “burning” in the sun and other stars · READINGS: Hansen, and Kawaler. Sections 3.1-3.5 and 7.1-7.2.
- Bohm-Vitense. Vol. 2. Chapters 5, 6, and 10.
- SES #: 24 · TOPICS: Adiabatic supernova shocks · READINGS: Shu. The Physics of Astrophysics, Volume II: Gas Dynamics . Chapter 15 (pp. 214-217) and 17.
- SES #: 25 · TOPICS: Galaxy morphology · READINGS: Binney, and Tremaine. Chapter 1 and section 3.1.
- Binney, and Tremaine. Chapter 1 and section 3.1.
- SES #: 27 · TOPICS: Collisionless Boltzmann equation (cartesian) and its moments · READINGS: Binney, and Tremaine. Chapter 4 through equation (4-45).
- SES #: 28 · TOPICS: Boltzmann and the 4 jeans equations (spherical) · READINGS: Binney, and Tremaine. Chapter 4 through equation (4-45).
- SES #: 29 · TOPICS: Galaxy disks: Rotation and epicyclic motion · READINGS: Binney, and Tremaine. Chapter 4 through equation (4-45).
- SES #: 30 · TOPICS: Galaxy models: Potentials, orbits, and distribution functions · READINGS: Binney, and Tremaine. Chapter 4 through equation (4-45).
- SES #: 31 · TOPICS: Clusters of galaxies · READINGS: Binney, and Tremaine. Chapter 4 through equation (4-45).
- Binney, and Tremaine. Chapter 10.
- 8.902 Notes on Cosmology. Sections 3.1-3.3.
- Bohm-Vitense, Erika. Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics . 3 vols. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1989. ISBN: 9780521344029.
- Binney, James, and Scott Tremaine. Galactic Dynamics . Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1987. ISBN: 9780691084442.
- Clayton, Donald D. Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis . Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1983. ISBN: 9780226109534.
- Hansen, Carl J., and Steven D. Kawaler. Stellar Interiors: Physical Principles, Structure, and Evolution . New York, NY: Springer, 2004. ISBN: 9780387200897.
- Shu, Frank H. The Physical Universe . Mill Valley, CA: University Science Books, 1982. ISBN: 9780935702057.
- Binney, James, and Michael Merrifield. Galactic Astronomy . Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1998. ISBN: 9780691004020.
- Gray, David F. The Observation and Analysis of Stellar Photospheres . New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN: 9780521851862.
- Harwit, Martin. Astrophysical Concepts . New York, NY: Springer, 1998. ISBN: 9780387949437.
- Longair, Malcolm S. Galaxy Formation . New York, NY: Springer, 1998. ISBN: 9783540637851.
- Osterbrock, Donald E. The Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae and Active Galactic Nuclei . Sausalito, CA: University Science Books, 2006. ISBN: 9781891389344.
- Ostlie, Dale A., and Bradley W. Carroll. An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics . Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1996. ISBN: 9780201547306.
- Peebles, P. J. E. Physical Cosmology . Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1971. ISBN: 9780691081083.
- ———. Principles of Physical Cosmology . Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993. ISBN: 9780691074283.
- Schwarzschild, Martin. Structure and Evolution of the Stars . New York, NY: Dover Publications, 1977. ISBN: 9780486614793.
- ———. The Physics of Astrophysics . 2 vols. Mill Valley, CA: University Science Books, 1991. ISBN: 9780935702644.
- Silk, Joseph. The Big Bang . New York, NY: W.H. Freeman, 2001. ISBN: 9780716742463.
- Spitzer, Lyman. Physical Processes in the Interstellar Medium . New York, NY: Wiley, 1978. ISBN: 9780471022329.
- Unsold, Albrecht. The New Cosmos . New York, NY: Springer, 2001. ISBN: 9783540678779.
- Weinberg, Steven. The First Three Minutes . New York, NY: Basic Books, 1993. ISBN: 9780465024377.
- ———. Gravitation and Cosmology . New York, NY: Wiley, 1972. ISBN: 9780471925675.
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: 8.04 U (Fall) 3-0-9 units
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2006
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.