2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHYS2015 High Energy Astrophysics

10 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Prof. Rene Oudmaijer
Email: r.d.oudmaijer@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students are expected to have completed PHYS 2150 Stellar Structure and Evolution or PHYS2300 Physics 3 before starting this module

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Stars that are more than eight times as massive as the Sun explode, driving shocks into their environments and leaving behind neutron stars and black holes. The shocks accelerate protons to energies a million times larger than the rest mass energy. The observed radiation emitted by and scattered by the energetic protons and energetic electrons, which are also accelerated, has a wavelength range extending over a factor of nineteen orders of magnitude. Some of the neutron stars left behind by such explosions rotate with periods of only a few milliseconds and slow down as their magnetic fields drain them of energy at rates of about a hundred thousand times the luminosity of the Sun. The jets formed around black holes having masses that are each 100 million times that of the Sun sometimes extend to scales of roughly ten times the size of a galaxy, and some jets associated with these exotic objects appear to move at speeds exceeding that of light. J. B. S. Haldane stated that the universe is not only stranger than we suppose - it is stranger than we can suppose. However, what we have managed to suppose and to understand is rather remarkable.This module will give you an insight into the astrophysics of sources with emission regions having temperatures in excess of one million degrees and of sources of non-thermal emission. Previous study of astrophysics modules is not assumed but you will find some concepts from first and second year Physics such as Doppler shift, shock waves, forces on moving charges and elementary particles useful.

Objectives

To introduce the radiative processes relevant to emission regions with temperatures in excess of one million degrees and/or containing non-thermal particles, and to investigate the astronomical environments in which such radiative processes operate.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
- interpret the spectra associated with different high energy emission mechanisms;
- summarise the primary process by which non-thermal particles are accelerated and the role of accretion in high-energy sources;
- explain the emission of X-rays from binary systems;
- describe popular models of extragalactic objects with reference to the influence of relativistic motion on our observations;
- make effective use of physics skills and knowledge to applications in Astrophysics.

Skills outcomes
Ability to apply diverse, basic physics and mathematical reasoning to novel problems.
Ability to synthesise a coherent physical scenario from multiple sources and types of information

Syllabus

Introduction to High Energy Astrophysics.
Radiation Processes: bremsstrahlung, synchrotron, Compton scattering, loss through self-absorption and pair production.
Supernova remnants: observational properties, particle acceleration at a shock.
Pulsars: discovery, magnetic dipole model, characteristic age, multiwavelength observations.
Compact binaries: X-ray discovery, accretion geometry, luminosity, plasma temperature and the Eddington limit, mass function, black hole candidates and microquasars.
Gamma ray bursts: discovery, afterglow observations, fireball model, relativistic beaming.
Active Galactic Nuclei (i) radio galaxies: discovery, synchrotron lobes, superluminal motion (ii) unified model, accretion power (iii) VHE blazers: discovery, variability timescales, jet photon emission mechanisms.
UHE cosmic rays: discovery via extensive airshowers, observational properties and the significance of magnetic fields, GZK effect, the Pierre Auger Observatory.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	27	1.00	27.00
Independent online learning hours			8.00
Private study hours			65.00
Total Contact hours			27.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Students will receive a home study problem sheet after every six to eight lectures, totalling 3 marked assignments in all. They will want to refer to the relevant sections in the class notes while completing these. Examples of current experiments and recent discoveries in the field will be signposted via a module web page to illustrate the principles discussed during lectures as an aid to understanding. Three review/workshop sessions will be scheduled; students should spend time studying the class notes so that they can come to these sessions prepared with questions for the lecturer and should also work through problems that will be circulated in class before they are addressed in the review/workshop sessions.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will receive a home study problem sheet after every six or seven lectures, totalling 3 marked assignments in all.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Problem Sheet	Problem sheets	15.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		15.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	85.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		85.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 15/01/2019

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