एमएससी (भौतिकी) ए और ए में वैकल्पिक पेपर - नमूना पाठ्यक्रम
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
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- Celestial mechanics
- Elliptical orbits
- Kepler's laws
- Virial theorem
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2 |
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- Earth-moon system
- Tidal forces
- Precession of earth's axis
- Interiors
- Atmospheres
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2 |
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- Planets
- Terrestrial planets
- Jovian planets
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1 |
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- Blackbody radiation
- Specific intensity and flux density
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- Stellar parallax
- Magnitudes
- Colour index
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1 |
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- Basic optics and optical telescopes
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1 |
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- Infrared, ultraviolet and X-ray telescopes
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1 |
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- Classification
- Formation of spectral lines
- Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
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2 |
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- Atmosphere
- Description of the radiation field
- Opacities
- Radiative transfer
- Structure of spectral lines
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5 |
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- Interior
- Atmosphere
- Solar activity
- Helioseismology
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Module II: Stellar Structure and Evolution
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- Hydrostatic equilibrium
- Pressure equation of state
- Energy sources
- Energy transport and convection
- Model building
- Main sequence
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- Classification
- Mass determination
- Accretion disks in close binaries
- White dwarfs, neutron stars
- and black holes in binaries
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- Interstellar dust and gas
- Formation of protostars
- Pre-main sequence evolution
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- Evolution on the main sequence
- Late stages of evolution
- Fate of massive stars, supernovae
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- White dwarfs
- Chandrasekhar limit
- Neutron stars
- Pulsars
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Tutorials will involve problem solving on the topics of the course.
Laboratory Experiments:
- 1. Polar aligning a telescope and measuring declination of Polaris.
- Measuring distance to Moon by parallax method.
- Measuring limb-darkening of Sun.
- Finding rotation period of Sun by measuring motion of sun-spots.
- 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.
- Measuring colour of a star by differential photometry.
- Measuring extinction of the atmosphere in B, V, and R bands.
- Characterising a CCD camera for gain, read-noise, linearity, and flat field.
- Estimating atmospheric seeing by measuring differential motion.
- Measuring stellar scintillations for different zenith angles and comparing it with scintillations for planets.
Text books:
- Modern Astrophysics, B. W. Carroll and D. A. Ostlie, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
- Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics, M. Zeilik and S. A. Gregory, 4th Edition, Saunders College Publishing.
- Theoretical Astrophysics, Vol II:Stars and Stellar Systems, T. Padmanabhan, Cambridge University Press.
Other books:
- The Physical Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, F. Shu, Mill Valley : University Science Books.
- Textbook of Astronomy and Astrophysics with Elements of Cosmology, V. B. Bhatia, Pb-New Delhi, Narosa Publishing House.
- The New Cosmos, A. Unsold and B. Baschek, New York:Springer Verlag.
ASTRONOMY and ASTROPHYSICS, Special Paper II
Module I : High Energy Astrophysics
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- Synchrotron emission
- for a single particle - for an ensemble of electrons
- Energy loss and electron spectrum
- Compton scattering
- Multiple Compton scattering
- Bremsstrahlung
- Thermal bremsstrahlung
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- White dwarf binaries
- Neutron star and black hole binaries
- HulseTaylor binary pulsar
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- Thin accretion discs
- Thick accretion discs
- Accretion discs in binaries
- Accretion discs in galactic nuclei
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Module II: Galaxies
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- Distribution of stars
- Morphology
- Kinematics
- Interstellar medium
- Galactic Centre
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- Hubble sequence
- Spirals and irregular galaxies
- Spiral structure
- Elliptical galaxies
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- Interaction of galaxies
- Formation of galaxies
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- Extragalactic distance scale
- Expansion of the universe
- Clusters of galaxies
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- Observations
- Unified model
- Radio lobes and jets
- Using QSOs to probe the universe
- Gamma ray bursts
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Tutorials will involve problem solving on the topics of the course.
Text books:
- Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei, A. K. Kembhavi and J. V. Narlikar, Cambridge University Press.
- Modern Astrophysics, B. W. Carroll and D. A. Ostlie, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
- Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics, M. Zeilik and S. A. Gregory, 4th edition, Saunders College Publishing.
- Theoretical Astrophysics, Vol I:Astrophysical Processes, T. Padmanabhan, Cambridge University Press.
Other books:
- The Physical Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, F. Shu, Mill Valley : University Science Books.
- Textbook of Astronomy and Astrophysics with Elements of Cosmology, V. B. Bhatia, Pb-New Delhi, Narosa Publishing House.
- The New Cosmos, A. Unsold and B. Baschek, New York:Springer Verlag.
- Introduction to Cosmology, J. V. Narlikar, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press.
- Structure Formation in the Universe, T. Padmanabhan,Cambridge University Press.
ASTRONOMY and ASTROPHYSICS, Special Paper III
Module I: General Relativity (GR)
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- Principles of special relativity
- Line interval
- Proper time
- Lorentz transformation
- Minkowski spacetime
- Lightcones
- Relativistic momentum
- 4-vectors
- Lorentz transformation of electromagnetic field
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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Module II: Applications of GR
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- 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
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Models of the universe
- Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models
- Hubble's law
- Angular size
- Source counts
- Cosmological constant
- Horizons
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Relics of the big bang
- The early universe
- Thermodynamics of the early universe
- Primordial neutrinos
- Helium synthesis and other nuclei
- Microwave background
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Formation of large scale structure
- Jeans mass in the expanding universe
- Growth in the postrecombination era
- Observational constraints
- Elementary ideas on structure formation
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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
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Tutorials will involve problem solving on the topics of the course.
Text Books:
- General Relativity and Cosmology, J. V. Narlikar Delhi: Macmillan company of India Ltd.
- General Relativity, I. R. Kenyon, Oxford university press.
- Classical Theory of Fields, Vol. 2, L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, Oxford : Pergamon Press.
- First course in general relativity, B. F. Schutz Cambridge: Cambridge university press.
- Introduction to Cosmology, 3rd Edition, J. V. Narlikar, Cambridge University Press.