Star formation and structure
Competences to be gained during study
— Capacity to write scientific and technical documents.
— Capacity to communicate, give presentations and write scientific articles on fields related to the topics covered in the master’s degree.
— Capacity to test predictions from theoretical models with experimental and observational data.
— Capacity to critically analyze the results of calculations, experiments or observations, and to calculate possible errors.
--Capacity to elaborate scientific proposals concerning to a topic of the course program.
-Capacity to analyze observational data from radiointerferometers using CASA tool.
Learning objectives
Referring to knowledge
— Learn basic concepts on the physics of the interstellar medium, with a focus on processes relating to star formation in our galaxy and the pre-main-sequence star evolution of objects in different mass ranges (low, intermediate and high).
— Deepen knowledge of the application of basic physics to gravity, hydrostatic equilibrium, heat transport and nuclear reactions to understand the structure and evolution of stars and gain a vision of current problems of interest in star formation and young stellar object evolution.
Teaching blocks
1. Introduction
1.1. The Milky Way galaxy
1.2. The interstellar medium
2. The tools: radio interferometry. Optical and near-infrared astronomy
3. Interstellar medium and star-forming regions
3.1. Interstellar dust; Composition and physical properties; Extinction, reddening and polarisation; Thermal emission
3.2. Atomic, ionised and molecular gas; Spectral line emission; Free-free emission, recombination lines of HII and physical parameters from HII; Chemistry of the molecular gas and formation of molecules; Molecular lines and physical parameters of molecular-line observations
3.3. Astrochemistry
3.4. Energy balance in molecular clouds; Virial theorem; Turbulence and magnetic field; Magnetically supported cores
3.5. Molecular clouds; Morphology, filaments and dense cores; Sites of star formation, examples of TMC, Orion
4. Young stellar objects
4.1. Spectral energy distribution; Classification and observational properties of YSO
4.2. PMS evolution; Hayashi and Henyey tracks; ZAMS
4.3. T Tauri stars and Ae/Be stars; Models and observations
4.4. Interaction of YSO with their environment; Jets, Herbig-Haro objects and bipolar molecular outflows
4.5. Accretion and supersonic ejection processes in YSO; Accretion disks; Observation and models
5. Practical cases
5.1. Basic concepts on calibration and imaging with CASA
5.2. Proposal writing
Teaching methods and general organization
— Lectures.
— Seminars led by guest experts.
— Discussion of recently published articles.
— Discussion of projects presented by the students.
—Discussion of a practical case elaborated from file data, applying observational techniques studied in the course.
--Elaboration of observational proposals
Official assessment of learning outcomes
Continuous assessment consists of:
— Submission of short written exercises or problems on the course content to be solved at home.
— An assignment on a topic related to the course contents. This includes a written report (limited length) and an oral presentation (15 minutes).
—A practical case elaborated from file data, applying observational techniques studied in the course
This part is worth 40% of the final grade.
— Final written examination, consisting of short-answer questions on physical concepts explained throughout the course.
The final exam is worth 60% of the final grade.
Repeat assessment consists of a written examination, similar to that in continuous assessment, worth 100% of the final grade.
Examination-based assessment
Single assessment consists of the oral presentation of an assignment, similar to that in the continuous assessment, and a written examination with questions on the course content and problem-solving exercises.
Reading and study resources
Check availability in Cercabib
Book
Prialnik, Dina. An Introduction to the theory of stellar structure and evolution. 2nd ed. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2010 Enllaç
https://cercabib.ub.edu/discovery/search?vid=34CSUC_UB:VU1&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&query=any,contains,b1494539* Enllaç
Estalella, Robert ; Anglada Pons, Guillem. Introducción a la física del medio interestelar. Barcelona : Publicacions i Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona, 2008 (Textos docents ; 50) Enllaç
This book covers most of the contents of the course.
2a ed. Enllaç
https://cercabib.ub.edu/discovery/search?vid=34CSUC_UB:VU1&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&query=any,contains,b1312542* Enllaç
https://cercabib.ub.edu/discovery/search?vid=34CSUC_UB:VU1&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&query=any,contains,b1278664* Enllaç
Hartmann, Lee. Accretion processes in star formation. 2nd ed. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2009 Enllaç
Smith, Michael D. The origin of stars. London : Imperial College Press, cop. 2004 Enllaç
Stahler, Steven William ; Palla, F. The formation of stars. Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2004 Enllaç
Ward-Thompson, Derek ; Withworth, Antony P. An introduction to star formation. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2011 Enllaç
"Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium Barbara Ryden & Richard W. Pogge Cambridge University Press, 2021
More information at: http://grad.ub.edu/grad3/plae/AccesInformePDInfes?curs=2023&assig=568425&ens=M0D0B&recurs=pladocent&n2=1&idioma=ENG
Presential
FALSE
Star formation and structure
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. The statements made herein do not necessarily have the consent or agreement of the ASTRAIOS Consortium. These represent the opinion and findings of the author(s).
