Course teacher(s)
Stéphane GORIELY (Coordinator)ECTS credits
5
Language(s) of instruction
english
Course content
One of the major issues in modern astrophysics concerns the analysis of the present composition of the Universe and its various constituting objects. Nucleosynthesis models aim to explain the origin of the different nuclei observed in nature by identifying the possible processes able to synthesize them. This course is an introduction to the big-bang and stellar nucleosynthesis. It includes the description of basic nuclear physics properties of relevance in nucleosynthesis processes. The nuclear mechanisms taking place during the big-bang and the various stellar burning phases are detailed. A special emphasis is given to the production of the elements heavier than iron by the so-called s-, r- and p-processes. The course includes 9 chapters, namely :
1. Introduction to Nuclear Astrophysics,
2. Properties of nuclei,
3. Nuclear reactions in stars,
4. Primordial nucleosynthesis,
5. Burning phases and related nucleosynthesis,
6. Nucleosynthesis of the elements heavier than iron,
7. The sprocess nucleosynthesis,
8. The r-process nucleosynthesis,
9. The p-process nucleosynthesis.
1. Introduction to Nuclear Astrophysics,
2. Properties of nuclei,
3. Nuclear reactions in stars,
4. Primordial nucleosynthesis,
5. Burning phases and related nucleosynthesis,
6. Nucleosynthesis of the elements heavier than iron,
7. The sprocess nucleosynthesis,
8. The r-process nucleosynthesis,
9. The p-process nucleosynthesis.
Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)
This course gives an introduction to the big-bang and stellar nucleosynthesis
Teaching methods and learning activities
Slides
References, bibliography, and recommended reading
“Principles of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis” D. Clayton (University of Chicago Press 1968, 1983);
“Supernovae and Nucleosynthesis” D. Arnett (Princeton University Press, 1996);
“Nuclear physics of stars” C. Iliadis (Wiley-VCH Verlag, 2007);
“Nuclear Astrophysics” M. Arnould, K. Takahashi, Rep. Prog. Phys. 62 (1999) 395-464.
Other information
Evaluation
Method(s) of evaluation
- Other
Other
Oral exam (typically 30-45 min) with open book and 30 min preparation.
Presentation of a literature article on a specific nucleosynthesis topic during the exam (typically 20 min)
Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)
Based on oral exam
Language(s) of evaluation
- english