Stellar atmospheres (Solens och stjärnornas atmosfärer), 10 hp

The course will be given in English. Room: 63133 (Tammsalen)

Lecturer: Andreas Korn (Room 63412, Phone 471 5994), Bengt Gustafsson (Room 63119, Phone 471 5959). 
Tutor: Wladimir Lyra (Room 63411, Phone 471 5994).

Course Description

The vast majority of light in the universe originates from stars. Therefore, understanding of stellar atmospheres is the basis of interpretation for virtually all astronomical observations. Almost every type of analysis, from age determinations of stars in the solar neighbourhood to determining the chemical composition of distant galaxies, requires understanding of stellar atmospheres. This course deals with analysis and modelling of such atmospheres. Fundamental observations, physical phenomena, modelling and comparison with observations are also covered.

Course Literature

• Gray, D.F., The observation and analysis of stellar photospheres, Cambridge University Press 1992.
  The course will follow this book's presentation and notation.
  (Copies are in the library. Buy directly from Cambridge or compare prices elsewhere with pricerunner. Be sure to get the corrections.)

• Rutten, R.J., Lecture notes on Radiative Transfer in Stellar Atmospheres
  These lecture notes are very thorough when it comes to detailed radiative transfer.
  (Photocopies can be purchased from the department. Don't worry about downloading and printing these huge files yourself.)
   
• Böhm-Vitense, E., Introduction to stellar astrophysics (vol. 2), Cambridge University Press 1989.
  If you lack some of the basics, this is a good starting point.
  (Copies are in the library. Buy directly from Cambridge or compare prices elsewhere with pricerunner.)

Course requirements

• 3 Problem Sets
  The problem sets will count for a bonus of up to 10% on the final exam, no late submissions.

  Problem Set 1 in PDF
  Problem Set 2 in PDF
  Problem Set 3 in PDF
   

• 2 Computer Labs
  Both lab reports must be submitted before sitting the final exam.

  Lab 1 in PDF
  Lab 2 in PDF
   

• 1 Written Final Exam

Schedule

Useful links

• Units of Measurement
• Lots of great images of cool stars at Karel Schrijver's home page
• SOHO images and movies of the sun
• TRACE images and movies of the sun
• Royal Swedish Academy Institute for Solar Physics images