18308 High Energy Astrophysics
Course Webpage: https://eclass.uoa.gr/courses/PHYS362/
Course Content
Introductory concepts. Radiation from relativistically moving sources (superluminal motion, Lorentz transformations of radiative quantities). Bremsstrahlung radiation (thermal bremsstrahlung, bremsstrahlung from relativistic particles, astrophysical applications). Inverse Compton scattering (study in the Thomson and Klein–Nishina regimes, Synchro‑Compton mechanism, astrophysical applications). Comptonization (Kompaneets equation, astrophysical applications). Cyclotron–synchrotron radiation (synchrotron emission and self‑absorption, cyclotron radiation in strong magnetic fields, astrophysical applications). Interactions of high‑energy protons with matter and radiation (introductory concepts, cross sections, particle production rates, astrophysical applications). Kinetic equations (general principles, solution techniques, astrophysical applications). Practical Exercise 1 (computational exercise using a non‑thermal radiation code). Practical Exercise 2 (data analysis and modeling of X‑ray sources). Practical Exercise 3 (data analysis and modeling of gamma‑ray sources).
