Department of Physics

18301 Basic Topics in Astrophysics

Course Webpage: https://eclass.uoa.gr/courses/PHYS359/

Course Content

• Fundamental plasma parameters (mean free path, Debye length). Kinetic theory (distribution function, conservation of mass, momentum and energy). Euler and Navier-Stokes equations. Fluids as continua (conservation of mass, momentum and energy). Radiative force and work.
• Introduction to magnetohydrodynamics (assumptions, flux freezing, ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations).
• Radiative flux and specific intensity. Relation with photon distribution in thermal equilibrium. Radiative transfer equation (coefficients of emission, absorption, scattering, optical depth, thermal radiation as an example of the general theory, Einstein coefficients).
• Emission and absorption lines. Dust absorption.
• Retarded potentials. Electromagnetic field of an accelerating charge. Spectrum analysis. Polarization, Stokes parameters, propagation of polarized radiation.
• Bremsstrahlung radiation (basic principles, thermal Bremsstrahlung radiation, relativistic Bremsstrahlung radiation, Astrophysical applications).