Photons in Astrophysics

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Be able to draw some simple conclusions regarding the physical parameters in the emitting sources based on the radiation received.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Knowledge of the instrumentation required to detect photons in different wavebands
• Understand the key radiative processes occurring in astronomy.

Radiative Processes

• Radiation from an accelerated charge.
• Inverse Compton radiation.
• Cyclotron and Synchrotron radiation.
• Bremsstrahlung radiation.
• Black body radiation.
• Optical and infrared line emission.
• Scattering processes, e.g. Compton and Rayleigh scattering.
• Cherenkov radiation.
• Gravitational waves.
• Fourier analysis

Detection Techniques

• Radio telescopes: interferometers, aperture synthesis.
• Infrared and optical telescopes: CCD detectors.
• X-ray detectors: proportional counters, multichannel plates, grazing incidence imaging.
• Gamma-ray detectors: crystal scintillators, semiconductors, spark chambers, codedmask imaging.
• Neutrino detectors.
• Air Cherenkov techniques.
• Gravitational wave detectors
• Astrometry

Astrophysical Examples

• Bremsstrahlung emission from star-forming regions and clusters of galaxies.
• Synchrotron emission from radio galaxies.
• Synchrotron Self-Compton scattering emission from blazars.
• Maps of our Galaxy in Gamma-ray line emission.
• TeV emission from BL Lac objects.
• X-ray emission from accreting compact objects.
• Binary stars and their astrometric signatures.
• Cosmic rays, neutrinos and gravitational wave messengers.

Teaching and learning methods

• Lectures.
• Problem Sheets.
• Group Revision.
• Guest Lectures.
• Reading original published research.
• Investigating controversial research to understand conflicting models.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

M S Longair. High Energy Astrophysics. CUP.

G B Rybicki & A P Lightman. Radiative Processes in Astrophysics. Wiley.

Kitchin. Astrophysical Techniques.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External