 | | |
| SPAT0054-1 | Astrophysics and astrochemistry
|
|
| Duration : | 15h Th, 5h Pr |
|
| Number of credits : |
|
|
| Lecturer : | Michaël De Becker |
|
Language(s) of instruction :
|
| French language |
|
Organisation and examination :
|
| Teaching in the first semester, review in January |
|
Course contents :
|
| Progress made in the last past years allowed us to clarify our vision of interstellar and circumstellar chemistry. To date, the number of firmly identified molecules in the interstellar medium is more than 150, thanks to the development of observational instrumentation. Significant progress is expected in this field in the forthcoming years thanks to the advent of large observatories such as ALMA. The processes responsible for the formation of these chemical species, along with their potential filiation, are the subject of many studies at the heart of modern research.
This course is mainly built in three parts:
1. The first part introduces several concepts frequently used in astrophysics, and presents various astronomical environments following a rather descriptive approach. This could be considered as a short introduction to astrophysics, in the purpose to understand the specificities of astrochemistry. The issue of the origin of the chemical elements is also addressed.
2. The second part aims at providing an insight into modern astrochemical studies, insisting on the impact of the astrophysical environment on the processes responsible for the formation and/or destruction of molecules. The issue the existence of more complex molecules and of potentially prebiotic molecules is discussed.
3. The third part combines the elements of astrophysics and astrochemistry introduced in the two previous parts. The end of the course consists of the discussion of the evolution of a molecular cloud up to the planetary system stage. |
|
Learning outcomes of the course :
|
| This course aims at providing the students with an introductory and general view of some aspects of astrophysics, and of processes and phenomena located at the interface between astrophysics and chemistry. One of the objectives is to introduce the students of the Master in Chemistry and of the Master in Geology to the basics required to access to the specialized literature in astrochemistry, in order to favour pluridisciplinary approaches. This introduction is therefore expected to provide the students with the necessary autonomy to improve their knowledge of this field by themselves, either for research or personal interest purpose.
This course constitutes also a good opportunity to realize that the domain of application of chemistry is not limited to laboratories, to living cells or to the terrestrial ecosystem, but extends far beyond the limits of our planet. |
|
Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
|
| No particular prerequisite. |
|
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
|
| The theoretical part is organized in lectures illustrated by detailed lecture notes and by slideshows commented by the lecturer.
The practical part of the course consists in individual or collective exercies realized under the supervision of the lecturer. These exercises require an active participation of students, and are partly based on scientific papers that are directly related to the theme of the course. |
|
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
|
| The course is organized in theoretical lectures (15 hours in total), complemented by exercices (5 hours in total) illustrating some aspects of the course content.
The presence of students is requested for both theoretical and practical lectures. |
|
Recommended or required readings :
|
| Lecture notes written in english including the main content of the course will be provided to the students. These lecture notes refer to a detailed bibliography that is adapted to the objectives of the course. |
|
Assessment methods and criteria :
|
| An oral examination will be organized at the end of the year.
The first part of this examination is directly related to the practical exercises, and the second part is more specifically devoted to the content of the theoretical lectures. |
|
Work placement(s) :
|
| |
|
Organizational remarks :
|
| The main part of the course consists of a theoretical description of various aspects of astrophysics and astrochemistry, spiced with examples found in specialized literature. Nevertheless, a few practical applications are also presented across the course in order to illustrate various principles. |
|
Contacts :
|
| Michaël De Becker
Phone: 04/3669717
E-mail: debecker@astro.ulg.ac.be
Office: Institut d'Astrophysique et Géophysique, Building. B5c, 2nd floor, office 2/17 |
|
