Physics 606
Stars & Planets
Fall 2020

Prof. Alyson Brooks
classes/office hours via Zoom
Email: abrooks[at]physics.rutgers.edu

Class meetings: Monday and Thursday 8:40-10:00am

Office hours: TBD

Overview

This is an advanced graduate course designed for students pursuing research in astrophysics. We will study the physics of gas in extreme conditions and use it to understand the structure and evolution of stars. We will then transition to a study primarily of planetary dynamics in order to understand ongoing work on extrasolar planets. We will develop the formal theory as much as possible and consider computational approaches as appropriate.

Materials

Here are some of the main sources we will use:

• Lecture notes by Onno Pols
• Principles of Astrophysics by Charles Keeton (Springer, 2014)
• MESA stellar evolution code
• The Astrophysics of Planet Formation by Phil Armitage

Topics

Here is a preliminary list of topics for the course. A detailed schedule will be available on our Canvas site.

• what do we know about stars?
• principles of stellar structure
• gas properties
• energy transport
• nuclear processes
• life cycle: protostars, main sequence, late stages, remnants
• stellar oscillations
• atmospheres: stellar and planetary
• protoplanetary disks
• detecting exoplanets
• growth of planets
• planetary migration

Methods

Astrophysicists use a wide range of analysis methods. You can expect to see all of the following methods in class and on homework assignments. (It is okay if some of these are new to you; the key is being willing to learn and practice.)

• build intuition for physical effects and scalings using dimensional analysis, toy models, and approximations
• build intuition about typical numbers using specific examples
• solve problems analytically where possible
• solve problems computationally where needed (e.g., numerical integration, numerical solution of differential equations)
• plot results

Grading

• 60% homework (5-6 assignments)
• 15% project proposal
• 10% peer review of project proposals
• 15% final presentation

Collaboration

• You should first try all the homework problems yourself. You may then discuss the problems with other students in this course, but you must write up your solutions individually. Include a brief note about what you discussed, and with whom.
• You may consult books and published papers, but not solutions sets from other courses at Rutgers or elsewhere. If you use material from any other source (for homework, the final paper, or the presentation), make sure to give clear attribution.
• We will discuss whether the final projects will be independent or collaborative, depending on enrollment and student interest.
• Please familiarize yourself with the Rutgers policy on academic integrity.

Class Policies and Resources

• Click here for a list of policies and resources, including academic integrity, support for students with disabilities, and student wellness services.

Astrophysics at Rutgers • Department of Physics and Astronomy • Rutgers University

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