The Physics of Galaxies, 10 ECTS (hp), Spring 2020
 

 

Literature:

Peter Schneider, 2015, “Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology”,  Springer, ISBN 978-3642540820 (hardback), 978-3662500606 (paperback) or 978-3642540837 (eBook)
Please note that students of Uppsala University have free access to the eBook version of this title through the Uppsala University Library

 

Contents:

Extragalactic astronomy, with emphasis on the properties, evolution and origin of galaxies

 

Prerequisites:

Knowledge corresponding to a Bachelor's degree in physics, or similar. In addition, basic knowledge about spectra, stellar physics, galaxies and cosmology corresponding to the course Astrophysics I is required.

 

Examination:

Seminars, literature report, hand-in exercises, laboratory exercise

 

Teacher:

Erik Zackrisson, erik.zackrisson(at)physics.uu.se

 

Time:

Note:

March-June 2020

Due to the covid-19 outbreak, this course will be taught remotely using the Zoom software, not on campus

 

 

Schedule

Recent changes are marked in red
Sessions for which attendance is mandatory are marked in blue

Date

Time

Lecture/
Exercise session/
Seminar

Topics

To study

To turn in/prepare

March 24

10:15-12:00

Course introduction

Zoom, Course format, Course literature, Schedule,

Examination

 Intro slides

 

Pre-knowledge quiz (code 333938) – Deadline March 24, 09:00 (anonymous entry OK)

 

March 26

10:15-11:15

Lecture session 1

Historical background
The extragalactic distance scale

Galaxy classification

1—1.4,

3—3.1.3,
3.9—3.9.6,
Slides L1

 

Quiz (code 199195) – Deadline March 28, 10:15,
80% score required for bonus points

March 31

13:15-14:15

Lecture session 2

The Milky Way
The Local Group

2.1—2.4.2,

6.1—6.1.3,
Slides L2

 Quiz (code 708317) – Deadline April 2, 13:15, 80% score required for bonus points

 

April 1

15:15-16:15

Lecture session 3

Dark matter in galaxies

2.4.3, 3.3.4, 4.4.6,
7.6—7.6.3, 7.8,
8.2.2—8.2.3,

Slides L3

 Quiz (code 003881) – Deadline April 3, 13:15,

100% score required for bonus points

April 20

10:15-11:15

Lecture session 4

Disk galaxies

Elliptical galaxies

3.2—3.4.5,

Slides L4

 Quiz (code 893735) – Deadline April 22, 10:15
100% score required for bonus points

 

April 21

10:15-11:15

Lecture session 5

Star formation
Population synthesis
Galaxy spectra

The interstellar medium
The cosmic star formation rate history

3.5-3.5.6,
3.7,
3.10—3.10.2,

9.6—9.6.2,
Slides L5

Quiz (code 307303) – Deadline April 23, 10:15
100% score required for bonus points

April 23

10:15-12:00

Exercise session I

Group exercise

Study solution set I carefully

Make sure to have pen, paper, pocket calculator or calculator app handy

May 4

13:15-14:15

Lecture session 6

Black holes

Active galactic nuclei

Introduction to the database exercise

3.8-3.8.3

5—5.7,
Slides L6

Quiz (code 060580) – Deadline May 6, 13:15
100% score required for bonus points

May 7

10:15-11:15

Lecture session 7

Galaxy groups
Galaxy clusters

Gravitational lensing

6—6.8,

3.11—3.11.4,
7.7—7.7.4,
8.4, 9.2.3,

Slides L7

Quiz (code 415534) – Deadline May 9, 10:15
100% score required for bonus points

May 8

13:15—14:15

Lecture session 8

The high-redshift Universe

Cosmic reionization

The first stars and galaxies

8.5—8.5.3,
9—9.5,
10-10.7.2,
11—11.2,
Slides L8

 Quiz (code 494264) – Deadline May 10, 13:15

100% score required for bonus points

May 12

15:15-17

Exercise session II

Group exercise

Study solution set II carefully

Make sure to have pen, paper, pocket calculator or calculator app handy

May 13

10:15-12:00

Seminar I – Group A

 

See instructions for seminar I

See instructions for seminar I

May 14

13:15-15:00

Seminar I – Group B

 

See instructions for seminar I

See instructions for seminar I

May 15

13:15-15:00

Seminar I – Group C

 

See instructions for seminar I

See instructions for seminar I

May 18

 

Deadline

 

 

Literature exercise: written report

May 19

13:15-15:00

Seminar II

See instructions for seminar II

See instructions for seminar II

May 20

13:15-15:00

Seminar III – Group A

 

See instructions for seminar III

See instructions for seminar III

May 25

13:15-15:00

Seminar III – Group B

 

See instructions for seminar III

See instructions for seminar III

May 26

13:15-15:00

Seminar III – Group C

 

See instructions for seminar III

See instructions for seminar III

May 28

10:15-12:00

Literature exercise –  Oral presentations, Group A

Presentation

May 28

15:15-17:00

Literature exercise –  Oral presentations, Group B

 

Presentation

May 29

13:15-15:00

Literature exercise –  Oral presentations, Group C

 

 

Presentation

June 3

 

Deadline

 

 

Hand-in exercises

June 5

 

Deadline

 

 

Database exercise: written report

           


Examination

 

·     Two exercise sessions

·     Hand-in exercises

·     Three seminars

·     One database exercise

·     Written essay (minimum 3 pages) + oral presentation (10 minutes)

 

 

 Course material

 

·     Exercise sets with solutions: I, II

·     Hand-in exercises

·     Seminar instructions: I, II, III

·     Instructions for database exercise

·     Lecture slides
  grayscale: Intro, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L8

  colour, full-size: Intro, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L8

·     Assessment criteria

 

How to hand in reports

·     The written reports for the literature exercise and the database/computer exercise should be submitted to the URKUND system (a plagiarism detector used by Uppsala University), rather than to me directly. You do this by submitting your report as an attachment in pdf format to: erik.zackrisson.uu[at]analys.urkund.se            
You can read more about URKUND here.

 


Errata

·     None so far