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PHYS-F414

Structure et évolution stellaire

academic year
2023-2024

Course teacher(s)

Lionel SIESS (Coordinator)

ECTS credits

5

Language(s) of instruction

french

Course content

  • Star formation. Polytropic stellar models.

  • Evolution of low and intermediate mass stars : Hayashi line, main sequence, red giant branch (RGB), core He-flash, thermally pulsing AGB phase, super-AGB stars and carbon flash, white dwarfs.

  • Stellar nucleosynthesis (s-process, hot bottom burning).

  • Evolution of massive stars, massloss, nucleosynthesis (carbon, neon, oxygen, silicon burnings, nuclear statistical equilibrium). supernovae explosions. neutrons stars.

  • Evolution of binary systems (case A, B and C mass transfer)

  • Physics of mass and angular momentum transfer (tidal effects, gravitational radiation, Roche lobe overflow, wind accretion, accretion disc). Evolution of the orbital elements.

  • Algol systems, cataclysmic variables, X-ray binaries

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

The goal of this lecture is to provide an extended overview of the evolution and physics of single and binary stars, from the main sequence up to their end.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Cours co-requis

Teaching methods and learning activities

Slides + blackboard demonstrations

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

  • Stellar Structure and Evolution, R. KIPPENHAHN and A. WEIGERT 1990, Springer-Verlag

  • An Introduction to the Theory of Stellar Structure and Evolution, D. PRIALNIK, Cambridge University Press, 2000

  • Structure and Evolution of Single and Binary Stars, C. DE LOORE & C. DOOM, 1992, Kluwer Academic Publishers, volume 19,

  • Evolutionary Processes in Binary and Multiple Stars, P. EGGLETON, 2006, Cambridge Astrophysics

Other information

Contacts

Lionel Siess, Institut d'Astronomie et d' Astrophysique

Building NO, office N4.208

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

  • Other

Other

  1. The student selects a research article and writes a manuscript of 10-15 pages long discussing the main ideas and results developed in the paper.

  2. The student gives a 10-15 minute oral presentation of the paper, presentation that is followed by a series of questions in relation to the paper.

  3. Then, for 30 minutes general questions will be asked to evaluate the student's understanding of the course.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

The coefficient asssociated with the previous method is roughly

  1. 25%

  2. 30%

  3. 45%

Language(s) of evaluation

  • english
  • french

Programmes