As a graduate or upper-level undergraduate course on high energy astrophysics, we will explore high energy phenomena in a variety of astrophysical settings, including within diffuse plasmas and around compact objects. After taking the course, students are expected to have completed the following course objectives:
This requires the students to have a good background in physics, with a basic understanding of electrodynamics, statistical mechanics, classical dynamics, and quantum physics. For mathematics, a good background in integral and differential calculus is necessary. No prior detailed knowledge of general relativity or radiative processes is assumed; relevant concepts will be introduced as needed.
The physical processes producing radiation and particles will be introduced, and techniques for their detection in the X-ray, gamma ray, and cosmic ray regimes will be discussed. Topics include accretion disks, pulsars, non-magnetized neutron stars, binary X-ray sources, black holes, supernovae and supernova remnants, gamma ray bursts, gravitational wave sources, clusters of galaxies, and active galactic nuclei.
The following sections detail the structure, requirements, and expectations of the course. The instructor reserves the right to modify any of the policies currently described here, but will endeavor to hew closely to the syllabus as outlined on the first day of class, and any subsequent changes will be communicated clearly to the class.
Chapters from the textbook should be read prior to the week the topic is discussed. For example, Chapter 5 should be read before Jan. 14th and Chapter 6 preferably read by the same date, although we may not get to it until Jan. 16th. Part of the final grade will include in-class participation via answering questions and involvement in discussions. Therefore, regular class attendance is expected, but 100% attendance is not necessary to receive full participation credit.
Problem sets covering material from the textbook and in class will be due every Thursday at the start of class (no later than 2:05pm) except for the week of the midterm exam. Each assignment will be passed out in class and posted online the previous Thursday. There will be ~11 total homework assignments; only ~10 will count toward the final grade (with the lowest score dropped). Solutions will be posted online, and graded homeworks returned, on the following Thursday (on a best-effort basis). One late assignment will be accepted if submitted by the start of the following Thursday class, before solution sets are provided; let me know if you plan to turn in an assignment late so I don’t inadvertently post solutions early.
All exams will be open book/open note and cover all material up to that point in the course. The midterm will take place in the regular classroom from 2-3:20pm. The Final Exam will be comprehensive. For dates, see the Course Schedule above.
Each student will choose a project that should touch on a topic covered in class and explore it (e.g., reducing X-ray data of a pulsar and measuring its spectrum and pulse period, or reading and synthesizing several papers on pulsar types/evolution). The presentation should explain what you did and why. A written report on your work will summarize your findings and constitute the majority of your grade.
Grades are determined from homework, class participation, exams, and student presentations according to the following weights:
Ultimately, grades may be assigned on a curve, but only in a favorable direction from a baseline distribution. You may calculate your final grade based on past and extrapolated grades to estimate your minimum actual final grade. The magnitude/formula of the curve is determined at the discretion of the instructor. The baseline grade distribution will assume:
Cheating (including copying homework from any sources) will not be tolerated, and zero credit will be given on the assignment or exam for all parties involved.
Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which Includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a civil rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you are encouraged to report it to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 135 Park Building, 801-581-8365, or the Office of the Dean of Students, 270 Union Building, 801-581-7066. For support and confidential consultation, contact the Center for Student Wellness, 426 SSB, 801-581-7776. To report to the police, contact the Department of Public Safety, 801-585-2677 (5-COPS).
The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in this class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability and Access https://disability.utah.edu/, 162 Olpin Union Building, (801) 581-5020. CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability and Access.
Personal concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, depression, cross-cultural difficulties, etc., can interfere with a student’s ability to succeed and thrive at the University of Utah. For helpful resources, contact the Center for Student Wellness at www.wellness.utah.edu, 426 SSB, or 801-581-7776.
