Prerequisite: there is no mandated prerequisite for the course
While no prerequisite is listed in the General Announcements, considerable
physics and mathematical background is necessary to feel comfortable in
this course. Students will find
ASTR 565
to be challenging because it draws from several areas of physics,
including quantum mechanics, particle and nuclear physics, general and
special relativity, statistical physics, electrodynamics and plasma
physics. Much of this will be treated along the way, but backgrounds in
some or most of these areas will make for a more enjoyable experience
when studying Compact Objects. Experience with observational astronomy
concepts is helpful but not necessary; these will be introduced wherever
pertinent.
Physics: It will be necessary to use a number of the concepts of modern physics in this class. Students should be familiar with basic non-relativistic quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and electrodynamics, special relativity, and some nuclear physics, material commensurate with portions of that covered in Rice University courses like PHYS 301, PHYS 302, PHYS 311, PHYS 322, PHYS 411, and PHYS 425. At the graduate level, there will be occasional overlapping material with courses like ASTR 505 Processes in Cosmic Plasmas, ASTR 551 Astrophysics I: Sun and Stars, and PHYS 541 Radiative Processes. Hence, background in these courses may also be helpful, but is not necessary since ASTR 565 is self-contained within its specific focus on white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes, and their manifestations in astrophysics. General relativity will not be assumed, and its concepts will be introduced at the appropriate juncture. With this pot-pourri of physics ingredients, students should relish this opportunity to blend disparate concepts from their undergraduate training within the framework of a single course.
Mathematics: We will use various calculus-based and analytic tools throughout the course. This will include solving ordinary (and occasionally partial) differential equations, use of series and special functions, complex variables and integral transforms, as required. No mathematical content will go beyond PHYS 516 Mathematical Methods, a survey course that will more than suffice for the goals of ASTR 565. Some equations may need to be solved numerically on the computer, so experience with coding in a programming language such as C or Fortran, or with packages such as Mathematica, Maple or MatLab, could prove helpful.