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| SPAT0009-1 | High-energy astrophysics
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| Duration : | 25h Th, 5h Pr |
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| Number of credits : |
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| Lecturer : | Grégor Rauw |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| French language |
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Course contents :
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| Thanks to spaceborne observatories, new
spectral windows have become available to the astrophysicists. This course deals with high-energy astrophysics in the X-ray and gamma-ray domains.
We start by an introduction to the microscopic processes that generate X-ray or gamma-ray radiation in the Universe: bremsstrahlung, (inverse) Compton scattering, black body emission, photoelectric absorption, Auger effect, radioactive decays,... Then, we discuss various models that are used to fit the observed high-energy spectra. The properties of many different X-ray or gamma-ray sources are described: coronal sources (our Sun, cool stars), supernova remnants, X-ray pulsars, X-ray binaries, hot stars, clusters of galaxies, quasars, active nuclei of galaxies, gamma-ray bursts... We also describe the instrumentations (telescopes and detectors) used in high-energy astrophysics and provide an overview of the most recent missions (ROSAT, ASCA, Chandra, XMM-Newton,...). The particular aspects of data reduction in these energy domains are introduced and during a hands-on session, the students can manipulate X-ray spectra themselves. |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| The aim of this course is to familiarize students with the specific context and techniques of high-energy astrophysics. By the end of this course, the students will be able to read and understand scientific publications on this topic and to do their own analysis of X-ray observations of the sky. |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| Good knowledge of mathematics, physics, classical mechanics and some knowledge of special relativity. |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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| A hands-on session (3 - 4 hrs) is organized where students reduce X-ray spectra themselves. Attendance
of this session is mandatory. |
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| The lectures are usually scheduled as 2.5h/week over 10 weeks during the first semester. The hands-on session is organised after the end of the lectures. |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| The lecture notes are provided in English. A hardcopy is available for 6 euro whilst the pdf file is available for free. |
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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| Oral examination: the students can choose between a "classical" examination or the presentation of a personal research work consisting of the analysis of a scientific publication dealing with observations in the high-energy astrophysics domain. Whatever the choice for the examination, the evaluation emphasizes the understanding of the course and the ability to use the techniques that have been taught. To successfully pass the exam students have to learn and understand. |
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Organizational remarks :
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| N/A |
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Contacts :
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| Gregor Rauw
Chargé de Cours
Institut d'Astrophysique et Géophysique, Bât. B5c,
Allée du 6 Août, 17
4000 Liège
Tel. +32-(0)4 366 9740
e-mail: rauw@astro.ulg.ac.be |
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