M.Sc. (Physics) Optional Papers in A & A - Sample Syllabus

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune
These are sample syllabi for three special/optional papers in M.Sc. (Physics). Any two papers may be adopted.

ASTRONOMY and ASTROPHYSICS, Special Paper I

Module I: Solar System and Stars

1. The solar system 5 lectures
 
  • Celestial mechanics
  • Elliptical orbits
  • Kepler's laws
  • Virial theorem
2
 
  • Earth-moon system
  • Tidal forces
  • Precession of earth's axis
  • Interiors
  • Atmospheres
2
 
  • Planets
  • Terrestrial planets
  • Jovian planets
1
2. Observational tools 6 lectures
 
  • Blackbody radiation
  • Specific intensity and flux density
1
 
  • Stellar parallax
  • Magnitudes
  • Colour index
1
 
  • Basic optics and optical telescopes
1
 
  • Radio telescopes
1
 
  • Infrared, ultraviolet and X-ray telescopes
1
 
  • Coordinates and time
1
3. Sta 7 lectures
 
  • Classification
  • Formation of spectral lines
  • Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
2
 
  • Atmosphere
  • Description of the radiation field
  • Opacities
  • Radiative transfer
  • Structure of spectral lines
5
4. Sun 5 lectures
 
  • Interior
  • Atmosphere
  • Solar activity
  • Helioseismology
 

Module II: Stellar Structure and Evolution

1. Stellar interiors 7 lectures
 
  • Hydrostatic equilibrium
  • Pressure equation of state
  • Energy sources
  • Energy transport and convection
  • Model building
  • Main sequence
 
2. Binary stars 5 lectures
 
  • Classification
  • Mass determination
  • Accretion disks in close binaries
  • White dwarfs, neutron stars
  • and black holes in binaries
 
3. Star formation 3 lectures
 
  • Interstellar dust and gas
  • Formation of protostars
  • Pre-main sequence evolution
 
4. Post main sequence evolution 3 lectures
 
  • Evolution on the main sequence
  • Late stages of evolution
  • Fate of massive stars, supernovae
 
5. Degenerate remnants of stars 4 lectures
 
  • White dwarfs
  • Chandrasekhar limit
  • Neutron stars
  • Pulsars
 

Tutorials will involve problem solving on the topics of the course.

Laboratory Experiments:

  1. 1. Polar aligning a telescope and measuring declination of Polaris.
  2. Measuring distance to Moon by parallax method.
  3. Measuring limb-darkening of Sun.
  4. Finding rotation period of Sun by measuring motion of sun-spots.
  5. Measuring relative sensitivity of B, V, and R bands of a photometer with Sun and using this to find temperature of filament of a lamp.
  6. Measuring colour of a star by differential photometry.
  7. Measuring extinction of the atmosphere in B, V, and R bands.
  8. Characterising a CCD camera for gain, read-noise, linearity, and flat field.
  9. Estimating atmospheric seeing by measuring differential motion.
  10. Measuring stellar scintillations for different zenith angles and comparing it with scintillations for planets.

Text books:

  1. Modern Astrophysics, B. W. Carroll and D. A. Ostlie, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
  2. Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics, M. Zeilik and S. A. Gregory, 4th Edition, Saunders College Publishing.
  3. Theoretical Astrophysics, Vol II:Stars and Stellar Systems, T. Padmanabhan, Cambridge University Press.

Other books:

  1. The Physical Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, F. Shu, Mill Valley : University Science Books.
  2. Textbook of Astronomy and Astrophysics with Elements of Cosmology, V. B. Bhatia, Pb-New Delhi, Narosa Publishing House.
  3. The New Cosmos, A. Unsold and B. Baschek, New York:Springer Verlag.

ASTRONOMY and ASTROPHYSICS, Special Paper II

Module I : High Energy Astrophysics

1. Radiative processes in astrophysics 10 lectures
 
  • Synchrotron emission
    - for a single particle
    - for an ensemble of electrons
  • Energy loss and electron spectrum
  • Compton scattering
  • Multiple Compton scattering
  • Bremsstrahlung
  • Thermal bremsstrahlung
 
2. Binary stars 7 lectures
 
  • White dwarf binaries
  • Neutron star and black hole binaries
  • HulseTaylor binary pulsar
 
3. Accretion discs 5 lectures
 
  • Thin accretion discs
  • Thick accretion discs
  • Accretion discs in binaries
  • Accretion discs in galactic nuclei
 

Module II: Galaxies

1. The Milky Way Galaxy 5 lectures
 
  • Distribution of stars
  • Morphology
  • Kinematics
  • Interstellar medium
  • Galactic Centre
 
2. Nature of galaxies 4 lectures
 
  • Hubble sequence
  • Spirals and irregular galaxies
  • Spiral structure
  • Elliptical galaxies
 
3. Galactic evolution 4 lectures
 
  • Interaction of galaxies
  • Formation of galaxies
 
4. Structure of the universe 5 lectures
 
  • Extragalactic distance scale
  • Expansion of the universe
  • Clusters of galaxies
 
5. Active galaxies and quasi-stellar objects 5 lectures
 
  • Observations
  • Unified model
  • Radio lobes and jets
  • Using QSOs to probe the universe
  • Gamma ray bursts
 

Tutorials will involve problem solving on the topics of the course.

Text books:

  1. Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei, A. K. Kembhavi and J. V. Narlikar, Cambridge University Press.
  2. Modern Astrophysics, B. W. Carroll and D. A. Ostlie, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
  3. Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics, M. Zeilik and S. A. Gregory, 4th edition, Saunders College Publishing.
  4. Theoretical Astrophysics, Vol I:Astrophysical Processes, T. Padmanabhan, Cambridge University Press.

Other books:

  1. The Physical Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, F. Shu, Mill Valley : University Science Books.
  2. Textbook of Astronomy and Astrophysics with Elements of Cosmology, V. B. Bhatia, Pb-New Delhi, Narosa Publishing House.
  3. The New Cosmos, A. Unsold and B. Baschek, New York:Springer Verlag.
  4. Introduction to Cosmology, J. V. Narlikar, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press.
  5. Structure Formation in the Universe, T. Padmanabhan,Cambridge University Press.

ASTRONOMY and ASTROPHYSICS, Special Paper III

Module I: General Relativity (GR)

1. Overview of special relativity 4 lectures
 
  • Principles of special relativity
  • Line interval
  • Proper time
  • Lorentz transformation
  • Minkowski spacetime
  • Lightcones
  • Relativistic momentum
  • 4-vectors
  • Lorentz transformation of electromagnetic field
 
2. Conceptual foundations of GR and curved spacetime 12 lectures
 
  • Principle of equivalence
  • Connection between gravity and geometry
  • Form of metric in Newtonian limit
  • Metric tensor and its properties
  • Concept of curved spaces and spacetimes
  • Tangent space and four vectors
  • Tensor algebra
  • Tensor calculus
  • Covariant differentiation
  • Parallel transport
  • Riemann curvature tensor
  • Geodesics
  • Particle trajectories in gravitational field
 
3. Dynamics of gravitational field 4 lectures
 
  • Einstein's field equations
  • Definition of the stress tensor
  • Bianchi identities and conservation of the stress tensor
  • Einstein's equations for weak gravitational fields
  • The Newtonian limit
 
4. Schwarzschild metric and related topics 5 lectures
 
  • Derivation of Schwarzschild metric
  • Basic properties of Schwarzschild metric coordinate-
  • systems and nature of R=2M surface
  • Effective potential for particle orbits in Schwarzschild metric,
  • general properties
  • Precession of perihelion
  • Deflection of ultra relativistic particles
  • Gravitational red-shift
 

Module II: Applications of GR

1. Gravitational waves 5 lectures
 
  • Wave equation in linearised theory
  • Plane waves
  • Transverse traceless gauge
  • Effect on test particles
  • Principles of detection and generation of gravitational waves
  • Types of detectors
  • Landau-Lifshitz formula
  • Hulse Taylor binary pulsar
 
2. Cosmology 15 lectures
  Models of the universe
  • Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models
  • Hubble's law
  • Angular size
  • Source counts
  • Cosmological constant
  • Horizons
5
 
Relics of the big bang
  • The early universe
  • Thermodynamics of the early universe
  • Primordial neutrinos
  • Helium synthesis and other nuclei
  • Microwave background

3
 
Formation of large scale structure
  • Jeans mass in the expanding universe
  • Growth in the postrecombination era
  • Observational constraints
  • Elementary ideas on structure formation

3
 
Observations of the cosmological significance
  • Measurement of Hubble's constant
  • Anisotropy of large-scale velocity fields
  • Age of the universe
  • Abundance of light nuclei
  • Dark matter
  • Microwave background
  • Gravitational wave stochastic background

4
Tutorials will involve problem solving on the topics of the course.

Text Books:

  1. General Relativity and Cosmology, J. V. Narlikar Delhi: Macmillan company of India Ltd.
  2. General Relativity, I. R. Kenyon, Oxford university press.
  3. Classical Theory of Fields, Vol. 2, L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, Oxford : Pergamon Press.
  4. First course in general relativity, B. F. Schutz Cambridge: Cambridge university press.
  5. Introduction to Cosmology, 3rd Edition, J. V. Narlikar, Cambridge University Press.