This course gives an overview of current understanding in the studies of star and planet formation. After attending the course, students will know what the major current problems and paradigms are and how to pursue these as independent researchers.
The course discusses
observations and theory of star formation, and differences between the high- and low-mass cases;
the structure of proto-planetary disks, both from the dust (coagulation/fragmentation) and gas (chemistry/thermodynamics) perspective;
the formation of planetary systems and the properties of exoplanets.
These goals will be achieved at two levels: a theoretical level where the student can express insight, and a practical level where this insight is applied in calculations.
S.W. Stahler & F. Palla, The Formation of Stars, Wiley, ISBN 3-527-40559-3.
P.J. Armitage, Astrophysics of Planet Formation, Cambridge, ISBN 978-1107-653-085.
Interstellar Medium (required), Radiative processes (recommended).
The course consists of 13 lectures of 2 hours and 7 exercise sessions over a period of 8 weeks, followed by a written exam.
The final grade for the course is a weighted average of the grades for the exercises and for the exam.
Advanced undergraduate (Master-level) and beginning graduate students in Astronomy.
The basic schedule is given on the Ocasys page but see the table below for exceptions. Lectures are Mondays at 09:00 in room 161 and Fridays at 11:00 in room 257; exercise sessions are Tuesdays at 15:00 in room 161.
|
Date |
Topic |
Suggested reading |
|
06-02-2017 |
Stahler & Palla, Chapters 1-4 |
|
|
|
Part I: Star formation |
|
|
10-02-2017 |
Stahler & Palla, Chapters 5-8 |
|
|
13-02-2017 |
Stahler & Palla, Chapter 9-12 |
|
|
14-02-2017 |
|
|
|
17-02-2017 |
Stahler & Palla, Chapters 13-15 |
|
|
20-02-2017 |
Stahler & Palla, Chapter 16-19 |
|
|
21-02-2017 |
Armitage, Chapter 1 |
|
|
24-02-2017 |
Exercises 2: Cloud collapse and protostars |
|
|
|
Part II: Proto-planetary disks |
|
|
27-02-2017 |
No lecture | |
|
28-02-2017 |
|
|
|
03-03-2017 |
Armitage, Chapter 2 |
|
|
06-03-2017 |
Armitage, Chapter 3 |
|
|
07-03-2017 |
|
|
|
10-03-2017 |
Armitage, Chapter 4 |
|
|
|
Part III: Planet formation |
|
|
13-03-2017 (MM) |
Armitage, Chapter 5 |
|
|
14-03-2017 |
|
|
|
17-03-2017 (MM) |
Armitage, Chapter 6 |
|
|
20-03-2017 (MM) |
Armitage, Chapter 7 |
|
|
21-03-2017 |
|
|
|
24-03-2017 |
||
|
28-03-2017 |
|
|
|
31-03-2017 |
Q&A |
|
|
07-04-2017 |
Exam |
Prof. dr. Floris van der Tak:
telephone (050) 363 8753
e-mail f.f.s.van.der.tak AT rug.nl
office: 5419.0294
Dr. Michael Müller:
telephone (050) 363 8446
e-mail m.mueller AT sron.nl
office: 5419.0273
M.Sc. Katya Frantseva:
telephone (050) 363 4089
e-mail k.frantseva AT sron.nl
office 5419.0297