Observational Astrophysics - Part 1

Optical to Radio Wavelength Range

By Prof. Dr. Reinhard Genzel (MPE)

Lecture 1. Radiation

introduction of key terms, effects of the Earth's atmosphere, basic methods to detect radiation, fundamental limits of detection, a breeze through modern detectors

Lecture 2. Telescopes

geometric and wave optics, interference and diffraction, radio antennae, optical/IR telescopes

Lecture 3. Spectroscopy and more

heterodyne spectroscopy: correlators and all, gratings, Fabry-Perots, Fourier Transform spectroscopy, energy resolving detectors, making a real measurement

Lecture 4. High Resolution Imaging

beating the atmosphere: adaptive optics, radio interferometry, optical/IR interferometry

Observational Astrophysics - Part 2

Extreme UV to Gamma Ray Range

By Priv. Doz. Dr. R. Diehl (MPE)

Lecture 1. Multiwavelength Astrophysics

the EM spectrum revisited, Transmission of the Atmosphere, The Sky in different Wavebands, Basic High-Energy Radiation Mechanisms

Lecture 2. High-Energy Imaging Methods

Early Geometric Imaging Methods, Grazing Incidence X-ray mirrors, Gamma Ray Imaging Techniques, Photon detection statistics (Poisson)

Lecture 3. High-Energy Detectors and Spectroscopy

Proportional counters, X-ray CCDs, Cryogenic Bolometers, Transmission and Reflection Gratings

Lecture 4. Archival Computer Astronomy

Preprint Servers: ADS, astro-ph, Catalogue and Image: NED, SIMBAD, SKYVIEW Data Archives: HST, HEASARC, ROSAT, ISO etc., First online steps

Stellar Structure - Part 1

Structure and Evolution of Single Stars

By Priv. Doz. Dr. habil. Achim Weiss

observational basics, structure equations, simple models, microphysics:, equation of state, opacities, energy generation and chemical evolution, mixing processes, neutrino emission, solutions (numerical methods), connections to cosmology and extra-galactic astrophysis, the solar interior,overview over stellar evolution in three different, mass range (basic features, special events, special aspects, observational counterparts), low-mass stars (ZAMS, RGB, helium flash, Li, GC, ...), intermediate-mass stars (AGB, thermal pulses, dust winds, s-process ...), massive stars (mass loss, overshooting, advanced nuclear burning, ...), nucleosynthesis in stars, peculiar and variable stars, final objects

Stellar Structure - Part 2

Radiative transfer and stellar atmospheres

By Priv. Doz. Dr. habil. Joachim Puls

Interstellar properties, the radiation field: specific and mean intensity, radiative flux and pressure, Planck function

Coupling with matter: opacity, emissivity and the equation of radiative transfer (incl. angular moments)

Radiative transfer: simple solutions, spectral lines and limb darkening

Stellar atmospheres: basic assumptions, hydrostatic, radiative and local thermodynamic equilibrium, temperature stratification and convection

Microscopic theory, opacities and emissivities, line transitions: Einstein-coefficients and line-broadening ,continous processes and scattering, atomic level population ionization and excitation in LTE: Saha- and Boltzmann-equation, non-LTE: motivation and introduction

Stellar winds: brief introduction into pressure and radiation driven winds

Quantitative spectroscopy: stellar and atmospheric parameters and how to determine them, for the exemplaric case of hot stars