Teaching at ISU: fall semester 2008

Astro 582: High-Energy Astrophysics

TR 2:10-3:30, Cr. 3, Prereq: Astro 505

Office hours: Tuesday 3:30-4:00 or by appointment
Physics Hall Addition 413, Tel: 46448, mkp@iastate.edu

Have a look at the class syllabus

This course is designed for graduate students in their first or second year with some experience in astronomy and astrophysics, who have a standard knowledge in physics and mathematics. We will use materials covered in the introductory course Astronomy 505, in particular certain aspects of fluid dynamics and radiation transport. While I will very briefly review those materials, students who have not taken that or a similar course will want to access my notes for Astronomy 505 here. I will also make a note in the class syllabus, if referencing those notes may be beneficial.

The course can serve as the beginning of an intensive research program in high-energy astrophysics or as highly stimulating intellectual enrichment for any graduate student in physics and astronomy. Hopefully, it will be exciting and inspiring for everyone.

In the syllabus I indicate the relevant chapters of the textbook High-Energy Astrophysics, Volume I and II, (Malcolm Longair, Cambridge University Press, 1992/94). This textbook is designed for incoming graduate students, and thus it has a tendency to not go as deep as you may wish. It may then be useful to read a bit more on the underlying physics, for which I recommend the book The Physics of Astrophysics by Frank Shu, available in our library. Another valuable resource in particular for radiation processes and relativistic kinematics is Radiative Processes in Astrophysics by George Rybicki and Alan Lightman, also available in our library. The lectures will make more sense, and the discussions will be more informed and interesting, if you can keep up with the recommended reading. I will also make available my own lecture notes.

Regular homework will be assigned at intervals of two weeks. Late homework will not be accepted for credit without permission. I will devise the problems to cover important aspects and to be as instructive as possible. They should not prove to be unreasonably time consuming. Most people learn by doing, and thus the homework is a very important part of this class and it will also impact your grade. You may want to tackle the homework problems in groups of two or three. However, each one of you must submit his or her own written set of solutions and explanations.

Course grades will be determined on the basis of your performance at exams, and the homework. There will be two exams, one intermediate one-hour quiz and the last one during finals week. In summary, grades will be determined as follows:

20%   Homework
30%   Intermediate exam
50%   Final exam.

If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will need to go to the Disability Resource (DR) Office for coordination of your academic accommodations. The DR is located in the Student Services Building, Room 1076. Their phone number is 515-294-6624.

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