Astrophysics and Cosmology

To acquaint the student with the composition, structure and scales of the observable Universe, to introduce the main measurement techniques in astrophysics, the main types of stars and their equations of equilibrium and evolution, as well as the standard model in cosmology and the implications of the expansion of the Universe in different cosmological observables.

Learning outcomes

To know the main measurement variables in Astrophysics and Cosmology.
To understand the equations of equilibrium and stellar evolution.
To understand the main events in the evolution of the Universe and the ability to interpret the different cosmological observations that lead to the establishment of the current standard cosmological model.
To acquire the techniques of astronomical positioning.
To have a high degree of theoretical understanding of physical phenomena.
To know how to carry out bibliographic searches in general.

Shape of the Earth. Terrestrial coordinates. Celestial sphere. Points, directions and main planes. Daily movement of astronomical objects. Orbital movement of the Earth. Ecliptic. Celestial coordinate systems. Solar system. Celestial mechanics.

The Universe: Composition and scales. Theory of radiation: Black body. The Hertzsprung-Russel diagram.

Stellar equilibrium equations. Viral theorem. Stellar evolution: time scales. Jeans mass and radius. Main sequence and beyond: white dwarks, red giants, neutron stars and black holes.

Cosmology: Cosmological principle. Hubble´s law and the expansion of the Universe. Equivalence principle, general relativity and the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric. Friedmann equations and models of the Universe. Luminosity distance and particle horizon.

Observations in cosmology: measurements of supernovae type Ia and accelerated expansion of the Universe. Big Bang and cosmic microwave background. Thermal history of the Universe. Cosmic inflation.


There will be 4 practices of 1.5 hours each in the computer room dedicated to the contents:
-Celestial coordinate systems. (2 practices)
-Problems of celestial mechanics. (1 practice)
-Astronomical databases and their use in various problems. (1 practice)

Astronomy:
A. ABAD, J.A. DOCOBO, A. ELIPE. Curso de Astronomía, Prensas Universitarias de Zaragoza, Ed.2017. Código Bibliográfico Facultade de Física (3-A90-75).
R.M. GREEN. Spherical Astronomy, Cambridge University Press, 1985. (3-A90-79)

Astrophysics:
B.W. CARROLL, D.A. OSTLIE. An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics. Addison Wesley Longman, 1996 (3-A90-22)
E. BATTANER. Introducción a la Astrofísica. Alianza Editorial. Ciencia y Tecnología. Alianza Editorial, 2002. (3-A90-74)
P.I. BAKULIN y otros. Curso de Astronomía General. Ed. Pueblo y Ciencia. (3-A90-77)
C. ILLIADIS. Nuclear Physics of Stars, Wiley-VCH, 2015. (A20 284, available electronically)

Cosmology:
B. RYDEN, Introduction to Cosmology (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press, 2017. (A90-217)
J. CEPA, Cosmología Física, AKAL/Astronomía, 2023. (3-A90-103)
W.D. HEACOX, The Expanding Universe: A Primer on Relativistic Cosmology. Cambridge University Press 2015. ISBN: 978-1-107-11752-5
A. LIDDLE, Introduction to Modern Cosmology (3rd ed.), Wiley, 2015. (3-A90-40)

Internet resources:
Virtual classroom: it will include teaching material done by the professors and online resources.

Electronic books:
https://prelo.usc.es/

BASIC AND GENERAL
CB1 - That the students have demonstrated to possess and understand knowledge in an area of study that starts from the basis of general secondary education, and is usually at a level that, while relying on advanced textbooks, includes also some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting edge of their field of study.
CB2 - That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the skills that are usually demonstrated through the development and defense of arguments and problem solving within their field of study.
CB3 - That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
GC1 - Possess and understand the most important concepts, methods and results of the different branches of Physics, with a historical perspective of their development.
GC2 - Have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data, information and results, obtain conclusions and issue reasoned reports on scientific, technological or other problems that require the use of knowledge of Physics. CG3 - To apply both the theoretical-practical knowledge acquired and the capacity of analysis and abstraction in the definition and approach of problems and in the search for their solutions in both academic and professional contexts.

TRANSVERSALS
CT1 - Acquire capacity for analysis and synthesis.
CT2 - To have organizational and planning skills.
CT5 - Develop critical reasoning.

SPECIFIC
CE1 - Have a good understanding of the most important physical theories in Astrophysics and Cosmology, locating in their logical and mathematical structure, their experimental support and the physical phenomena that can be described through them.
CE2 - To be able to clearly handle the orders of magnitude and make appropriate estimates in order to develop a clear perception of situations that, although physically different, show some analogy, allowing the use of known solutions to new problems.
CE3 - To be familiar with the most important experimental models and to be able to perform experiments independently, as well as to describe, analyze and critically evaluate experimental data.
SC4 - To be able to compare new experimental data with available models to review their validity and suggest changes to improve the agreement of the models with the data.
SC5 - Be able to perform the essentials of a process or situation and establish a working model of it, as well as perform the required approximations in order to reduce the problem to a manageable level. Demonstrate critical thinking to build physical models.
CE6 - Understand and master the use of the most commonly used mathematical and numerical methods in Physics.
SC7 - Be able to use computer tools and develop software programs.
SC8 - Be able to handle, search and use bibliography, as well as any other relevant source of information and apply it to research and technical development projects.

The course consists of theoretical lectures that will be complemented with problem papers in interactive seminar classes, encouraging the participation of the students. Also the course consists of several sessions of interactive laboratory classes (practical) to be held at the computer room. Tests, exercises and assignments will be proposed as part of the continuous evaluation.

The course will have a Moodle Virtual Classroom, which will include additional materials such as lectures notes, problem sets, links to websites of interest, links to online resources and web pages, and any other information relevant to the course.

The evaluation system consists of two complementary parts:

(1) Continuous evaluation. It will represent 30% of the grade of each of the three parts of the subject. It will be based on the student's participation in the classroom and in the realization of tests, practices, problems and assigned work.
(2) Evaluation through a final written exam that will consist of three parts: Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology.

FINAL GRADE FOR THE WHOLE COURSE:

The final grade for the course will be the maximum value between the following two grades:

(i) The sum of the weighted sum of the final exam grades of Astronomy (30% of the total), Astrophysics (35% of the total) and Cosmology (35% of the total).
(ii) The weighted sum of the parts of Astronomy (30%), Astrophysics (35% of the total) and Cosmology (35% of the total) based on the sum of the continuous evaluation throughout the four-month period (30% of the grade of each part) and the grade of the final exam (70% of the grade of each part).

To pass the subject, it will be necessary to achieve at least a 4 in each of the three parts (Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology) of the final written exam.

For cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the "Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións" will be applied.

A course will be activated in the Moodle platform of the Virtual Campus, to which information of interest will be uploaded, as well as diverse teaching material.

Repeating students will keep the grade of the continuous evaluation.

Time for lectures: 24 hours.
Time of classes of problems and practicum: 18 hours.
Tutorials: 3 hours
Estimated additional time for personal work: about 67.5 hours.

To be fluent in concepts from other subjects, including quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics and nuclear and particle physics. To follow the subject in a constant way, participating actively in the theory classes, as well as in the problems and practices. To have basic computer skills, in particular, knowledge of Matlab and the Python programming language.