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 second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

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 some basic concepts. The issue of the origin of the chemical elements is also addressed. This part includes also a brief description of the solar system.
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. Gas phase and dust grain surface processes are described and discussed in their appropriate astrophysical context. The issue of the existence of more complex molecules, including 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, with emphasis on the evolution of the physico-chemical conditions of the environment.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

This course aims at providing to the students of the Master in Chemistry and of the Master in Geology an introductory and general view of some aspects of astrophysics, and of processes and phenomena located at the interface between astrophysics and chemistry, 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:
1. The Earth is an astronomical object, and it is relevant to locate it in its relevant astrophysical context. Our terrestrial environment is indeed intimately related to its previous history and its present context from the astronomical point of view.
2. 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.
3. The study of ambitious scientific questions requires often pluridisciplinary approaches.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

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.
Complements are also made available to students on the e-Campus platform.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid 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.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

Recommended or required readings

Lecture notes written in english including the main content of the course and slideshows are provided to the students. Lecture notes refer to a detailed bibliography that is adapted to the objectives of the course.
Lecture notes are made available on the e-Campus platform.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

oral exam

- Remote

written work

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

If the in-person mode is allowed:
 
An oral examination is organized at the end of the year.
The first part of this examination is directly related to the practical exploration of the bibliography (scientific paper to be discussed in relation with the course content), and the second part is more specifically devoted to the content of the theoretical lectures.
 
If the in-person mode is not allowed:
 
1. Students will receive by e-mail two open questions about a topic described in the course. They will have to prepare a detailed written answer at home for one of the two questions (students choose which one).

2. Students will also send by e-mail to the teacher a report on a scientific paper selected among the examples available on the e-Campus platform. Students will have to emphasize the connections between the course content and the selected paper. Students are encouraged, as far as possible, to establish connections with the content of other courses in their respective master programmes, to develop a pluridisciplinary dimension to their document. However, the report should be as focused as possible on the content of the selected paper. Reference to other papers is of course allowed. The report should be between 1500 and 2000 words.

3. Both the answer to the open question and the synthesis of the scientific paper willl be sent by e-mail to the teacher at the latest at a date specified by the teacher.

4. Within a few days after receipt of the answers, a few short questions will be sent the to students by e-mail, with the aim to provide some complement to their written documents prepared at home. The answers will be communicated by students by e-mail at the latest a few days after reception of the questions (date to be defined by the teacher).
 
5. The evaluation will be based on the quality and relevance of the content of the written documents, with adjustements defined by the quality of the answers to the short additional questions.

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. The practical activities can take the form of simple and informal discussions about a theme in relation with the course.
Complementary information useful for the course is also available on the e-Campus platform.

Contacts

Michaël De Becker
Phone: 04/3669717
E-mail: Michael.DeBecker@uliege.be
Office: Institut d'Astrophysique et Géophysique, Building B5c, 1st floor, office 1/8