2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHYS2015 High Energy Astrophysics

10 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Prof. Julian Pittard
Email: j.m.pittard@leeds.ac.uk@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

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 not 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
Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of:

1. Interpretation of the spectra associated with different high energy emission mechanisms;
2. the primary process by which non-thermal particles are accelerated and the role of accretion in high-energy sources;
3. the emission of X-rays from binary systems;
4. the popular models of extragalactic objects with reference to the influence of relativistic motion on our observations

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
Seminar	26	1.00	26.00
Private study hours			74.00
Total Contact hours			26.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Problem Sheet	Regular Homeworks	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		20.00

Resit will be in standard exam format.

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 30 mins	80.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		80.00

Students will have to complete an in-person exam at the end of the module. This will take place during the examinations period at the end of the semester and will be time bound.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/08/2024 16:42:23

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