G6004: Stellar Structure and Evolution
Fall 2006
Lecture times: Tueday/Thursday 10:00-11:15 AM
Instructor: Greg Bryan Office: Pupin 1325
Office hours: Wednesday 2-3 pm (or anytime I'm around)
Office phone: 854-6837
email: gbryan //at\\ astro.columbia.edu
course web-page: www.astro.columbia.edu/~gbryan/G6004_2006
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce the theory of stellar structure to
beginning graduate students, stressing the basic underlying physics.
The course will include a brief summary of the statistical
physics, a discussion of the sources of the stellar structure
equations, an introduction into how the equations are solved, and
a summary of the results of full numerical solutions.
We will also look at the basics of stellar atmospheres as well as
include an introduction to more exotic phenomena including stellar
pulsation and binary evolution.
Syllabus
A schedule of lectures can be found here. A detailed list of topics can be found here.
Textbooks
An Introduction to the Theory of Stellar Structure and Evolution
by Dina Prialnik (Cambridge University Press) 2000. This book is
the "required" text of this course. It is at a somewhat lower
level than the others, but has an excellent physical description of
stellar structures, and we will follow this presentation for the core
part of the course.
The Fundamentals of Stellar Astrophysics by G.W. Collins II. This is a very nice book on both stellar interiors and
atmospheres, but often goes into more detail than we can in the lectures. The
1989 edition out of this book is out of print but a web version (2003)
can be found at http://bifrost.cwru.edu/personal/collins/astrobook). We will use this text to supplement the first textbook, particularly for the background material.
Other recommended references:
Stellar Interiors: Physical Principles, Structure and Evolution
by C. Hansen, S. Kawaler, & V. Trimble (New York: Springer) 2004.
ISBN: 0-387-20089-4. This is a good book but focuses
exclusively on stellar interiors. It has an appealing approach.
Stellar Structure and Evolution by R. Kippenhahn and A. Weigert (Berlin: Springer) 1994. This is an excellent reference book.
Structure and Evolution of the Stars by M. Schwarzschild, (New York: Dover) 1958, 1965. Classic textbook.
Principles of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis by D. Clayton, (Chicago: Univ. of Chicago) 1968, 1984
Principles of Stellar Structure by J. P. Cox and R. T. Giuli (New York: Gordon and Breach) 1968
Black Holes, White Dwarfs, and Neutron Stars by S. Shapiro and S. Teukolsky (New York: Wiley) 1983
Grading
There will be approximately 8 problem
sets
throughout the term, as well as a
mid-term and final exam. Problem sets will be due
by the end of the day on which they are due. I am planning to ask
all students to do some sort of project and present the results at the
end of the term. In addition, there
will be a take-home midterm and a comprehensive final exam.
Finally, in an effort to encourage questions and discussion, part
of your grade will be based on class participation. The final
grade will be based on all of
these (problem sets 30%, midterm 20%, final 30%, participation and
project 20%).
Student Presentations
You will present a short discourse in the last two weeks of classes on
a subject of your choice (related to stellar structure!). More
information and a list of potential topics can be found here.
Problems Sets
Problem set #1: due Sept 26
Problem set #2: due Oct 3
Problem set #3: due Oct 10 (zams code available here)
Problem set #4: due Nov 14
Problem set #5: due Nov 28