The origin of elements is one of the fundamental questions in science and provides a unique test for our understanding of the early universe, the first generation of stars, the life-cycle and explosions of stars and processes in the interstellar medium. At the same time, it allows to test the current limitations of nuclear and high energy physics.
This course introduces students at the advanced under-graduate and graduate level to modern concepts and questions of nuclear astrophysics as interdisciplinary playing filed of nuclear, high energy, astrophysics and cosmology.
Course Topics
Element Abundances and the Chemical Evolution of the Universe
Fundamentals of Nuclear and High Energy Physics and Timescales
Nuclear Reaction Rates, the Equation of State and Reaction Network
The Big-Bang and the Early Universe
Stellar Burning Stages and Non-Explosive Nucleosynthesis
Astrophysical Sides of Slow Neutron Capture (s-process)
Explosive Environments: X-ray bursts and Nova, Supernovae, GRBs
Burning in Hydrogen-rich Environments (rp-process)
Burning in Helium-Rich Environments and Alpha-rich Freeze-out
Burning in Carbon,Oxygen and Ne-rich Environments.
The Rapid-Neutron Capture (r-process)
Nuclear Processes far from Stability
Main Textbook:
Nuclear Physics of Stars, Christian Iliades, 2007, WILEY-VCH, ISBN: 978-3-527-40602-9
Additional Literature:
An Introduction to Nuclear Astrophysics}'', J. Audouze & S. Vauclair, Springer (1980)
The Hispalensis Lectures on Nuclear Astrophysics, K. Langanke, Springer (2004)
Particle & Nuclear Astrophysics, E.W. Kolb and R.D. Peccei (eds), World Scientific Pub Co Inc. (1996)
Big-Bang and Other Explosions, D.N. Schramm, World Scientific (1996)
Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis, D.N. Schramm & M.S.Turner, Reviews in Modern Physics 70, 303 (1998)
High Energy Astrophysics, M. Longair, Springer (2001)
Prerequisites: AST4210/5211, PHY4604
(please contact instructor if you don't meet the prerequisites)
Credit: 3 semester hours
Evaluation of Performance:
There will be one homework every week due on Monday, two midterm-exams, and one final. The course grade will be based on the mid-term exams (15% each), the final exam (30%), homework assignments (30%), and attendance (10%). If you miss a mid-term or the final for a valid reason, it is your responsibility to arrange the make-up.
Grades: A (90-100%), A- (85-89%), B+ (80-84%), B(75-80%), B- (71-74%), C+ (66-70%), C (61-65%), C- (56-60%), D+ (52-55%), D ( 46-51%), F(<46%)
Academic
Honor Code:
Students
are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code published in he
Florida State University Bulletin and the Student Handbook. The first
paragraph reads: The Academic Honor System of Florida State
University is based on the premise that each student has the
responsibility (1) to uphold the highest standards of academic
integrity in the student's own work, (2) to refuse to tolerate
violations of academic integrity in the University community, and (3)
to foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the
part of the University community.
ADA
Statement:
Students
with disabilities needing academic accommodations should: a) register
with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource
Center SDRC; b) bring a letter to the instructor from SDRC indicating
that you need academic accommodations. Please do this during
the first week of class.