Summer Term 2024

Content

* Optical telescopes: optics and characteristic parameters, telescope types, diffraction, resolution, aberrations and corrections, applications
* Optical detectors: detector types, semiconductors and CCDs, quantum efficiency, readout, noise sources, multi-chip cameras, applications
* Imaging: techniques, photometry, data reduction and characterisation, signal-to-noise
* Atmospheric effects and corrections: extinction, turbulence, seeing, active and adaptive optics, laser guide stars, applications
* Spectroscopy: types of spectrographs and spectrometers, dispersive elements, integral field units, data reduction and characterisation, applications
* Infrared astronomy: detectors and techniques, sources, applications
* Radio astronomy: detectors and instrumentation, synthesis techniques, types of radiation and sources, applications
* Astronomical interferometry: wavelength regimes, instrumentation, applications
* X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy: detectors and instrumentation, types of radiation and sources, applications
* Astroparticle physics: neutrino and Cherenkov detectors, sources and acceleration mechanisms of neutrinos and cosmic rays, applications
* Gravitational-wave astronomy: detection, sources, applications.
* In-situ exploration and remote sensing.

Goal

After completing this course, the students have firm insight into the concepts, technologies, and the underlying physical principles and limitations of modern observational techniques along with scientific applications. They have knowledge of basic detector designs for different types of radiation and particles. They understand the environmental influence on astronomical observations. They are able to select and judge the adequate observational technique for studying an astronomical object of interest.

Content

- Astronomical basics: astronomical observations, methods and instruments;
orientation at the celestial sphere; fundamental terms of electromagnetic
radiation; distance determination, Earth-Moon system; terrestrial and gas
planets, small bodies; extra-solar-planets
- Inner structure of stars: state variables, stellar atmospheres and line
spectra; Hertzsprung-Russell diagram; fundamental equations, energy
transfer and opacity; nuclear reaction rates and tunnelling; nuclear fusion
reactions
- Stellar evolution: Main sequence, giants and late phases; white dwarfs,
Chandrasekhar limit; supernovae, neutron stars, Pulsars and supernova
remnants; binaries and multiple systems; star clusters
- Interstellar medium: cold, warm, hot gas phases dust, cosmic rays,
magnetic fields; ionization and recombination, Stroemgren spheres; heating
and cooling; star formation, matter cycle, chemical enrichment
- Galaxies: Structure and properties of normal galaxies and the Milky Way;
scaling relations; integrated spectra, luminosity function; cosmological
evolution of star formation; Black Holes in galaxies, active galaxies and their
properties, unified models
- Galaxy clusters: optical properties and cluster gas; hydrostatic model;
scaling relations; number densities and evolution
- Gravitational lensing: Concepts, mass distribution in galaxies and galaxy
clusters; cosmological lensing effect
- Large scale distribution of galaxies and gas: Structure in the spatial galaxy
distribution; redshift effects; biasing; Lyman-α-forest; Gunn-Peterson effect
and cosmic reionization
- Cosmology: Friedmann-Lemaître models, cosmological standard model;
origin and evolution of structures; halos of Dark Matter; Formation of
galaxies

Goal

The students have gained basic knowledge and understanding of astronomical objects, measuring units and methods, and the relevant astrophysical processes. They have a firm grasp of the fundamental interrelations of objects and processes on different scales. They are able to reproduce the basic features of the modern world view including the physical reasoning, and connect astronomical and astrophysical phenomena to previously acquired knowledge in physics.

Course Information

Content

Lecture: Thursdays, 14:15-15:45
Tutorial Group 1: Thursday, 15:45-17:15
Tutorial Group 2: Thursday, 15:45-17:15 (possible second group)

Location: 
Philosophenweg 12, Kleiner Hörsaal

Preliminary Schedule:
18.4.24: Introduction (Stefan Jordan)
25.4.24: Stellar structure 1 (Ralf Klessen)
02.5.24: Stellar structure 2 (Ralf Klessen)
09.5.24: Himmelfahrt
16.5.24: Stellar structure 3 (Ralf Klessen)
23.5.24: Energy transport (Stefan Jordan)
30.5.24: Fronleichnam
06.6.24: Energy production (Stefan Jordan)
13.6.24: Main sequence (Stefan Jordan)
20.6.24: Stellar evolution to the AGB (Stefan Jordan)
27.6.24: Late stages of stellar evolution (Stefan Jordan)
04.7.24: Stellar atmospheres, stellar spectra (Stefan Jordan)
11.7.24: Stellar pulsations, rotation, magnetic fields (Ralf Klessen)
18.7.23: Stellar spectra (Ralf Klessen)
25.7.23: Written exam (Ralf Klessen, Stefan Jordan)

Seminar:
 2-3 full days between July 29 and  Aug 2, 2023

Course Information

Content

Module Part 1: Lecture “Galactic and Extragalactic Astronomy” (4 CP)
- Galaxy types and classification, correlations with physical properties,
stellar populations, population synthesis, chemical evolution concepts and
models (2);
- Milky Way (3): halo, bulge / pseudo bulge, central black hole, thin and
thick disk, spiral structure, star clusters, star formation history and chemical
enrichment, formation scenarios (e.g., Eggen-Lynden-Bell-Sandage), multi-
phase interstellar medium, dust, Galactic fountain, satellites, substructure
problem, Local Group;
- Spiral and elliptical galaxies (4): Surface photometry, profiles, origin of
spiral structure, mass measurement methods, rotation / velocity dispersion,
Tully-Fisher / Faber-Jackson relation, fundamental plane, super massive
black holes, active galaxies;
- Groups and clusters (3): morphology-density relation etc., mass
measurements, gravitational lensing, luminosity functions, interactions;
intergalactic gas; dark matter;
- Growth of structure (3): Origin of matter and elements, large-scale-
structure formation, large-scale matter distribution, redshift surveys, weak
lensing, galaxy formation and evolution, red / blue sequence, downsizing,
scaling relations, Butcher-Oemler effect, cosmic star formation history,
Lyman alpha forest, high-redshift universe, reionization, problems in galaxy
formation.

Module Part 2: Seminar (2 CP)
- Presentations and discussions on selected topics in Galactic and
extragalactic astronomy

Goal

When successfully completing this course, the students are able to report on the properties of the wide range of galaxy types, understand their origin and evolution, and can elucidate the physical factors governing their evolution. They understand the main physical processes that shape the appearance of galaxies and galaxy clusters. They know about the connection between cosmological structure formation and the populations of visible objects. They have gained experience in applying dimensional and scaling arguments to estimate the relative importance of different physical processes.

Content

- Friedmann-Lemaître-cosmologies: cosmological redshift, parameter
set, effects of curvature and of the cosmological constant, Hubble
expansion and Cepheid-measurements
- Age of the Universe: age from the cosmological model, radiometric
dating and nuclear cosmochronology, age of the oldest cosmic
objects
- Distance-redshift relation of standard candles: distance-redshift
relations, calibration of supernovae, acceleration and dimming,
determination of densities and equations of state, evidence for dark
energy
- Abundance of chemical elements: thermal evolution, big bang
nucleosynthesis, other modes of nucleosynthesis (stellar, spallation,
explosive), reaction chains, element abundances
- Cosmic microwave background: formation of atoms, simplified
description of temperature anisotropies, measurement results and
conclusions from them (in particular spatial flatness), secondary
anisotropies
- Cosmic structures: linear growth, need for (nonbaryonic) dark
matter, large-scale distribution of galaxies, cosmic web
- Formation of galaxies: gravitational collapse, flat rotation curves
and virial equilibria, need for dark matter, abundance of haloes
- Gravitational lensing: gravitational light deflection, lens equation,
weak and strong lensing, measurements of lensing effects and their
inversion

Goal

In this course, students gain fundamental understanding of the cosmological standard model and the cosmological evolution, including the impact of the basic observations and the connection to the physical framework. They gain a solid overview of the empirical basis of modern cosmology.

Content

The course introduces data access and processing with the Virtual
Observatory (VO), focusing in particular on the VO's query language
ADQL and means to exploit the VO's capabilities from python.

For organisatorial matters, please refer to the course's page:
https://moodle.uni-heidelberg.de/course/view.php?id=22352

In case you already had contact with the Virtual Observatory, you
are also welcome to only attend selected lectures; for the semester
plan, see our lecture notes at https://docs.g-vo.org/vo2024.pdf.
No registration or appointment necessary.

Content

See the English page

Content

Systems of star clusters (APOD40616):
-->> cluster age and mass distributions, formation/evolution/observational-biases interplay
Cluster age and mass estimates from their integrated photometry
--> introduction to stellar population synthesis models
Cluster dynamical evolution - Gas-free evolution (SDSS web site):
-->> clusters lose stars and eventually dissolve
From gas-embedded clusters to gas-free ones (APOD120715, APOD120903 ):
-->> expulsion of residual star-forming gas and consequences
Formation of star clusters (MNRAS web site):
-->> Modelling of star cluster formation, concept of star formation efficiency per freefall time, gas density-probability distribution functions
Colour-magnitude diagrams (HST web site):
-->> cluster age estimates for the resolved stellar-population case, kinematic-based "cleansing" of cluster CMDs

Course Information

Content

Vorgestellt werden aktuelle Fragestellungen der Forschung und zur Zeit laufende 
oder in Planung befindliche Forschungsprojekte. 
Themen sind: Schwarze Löcher (stellar, intermediär, supermassiv), Gravitationslinsen, Gravitationswellen, Dunkle Materie, etc.

Termine und Themen sind auf folgender Webseite zu finden:
https://blog.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/silkebritzen/vorlesung-universitat-heidelberg/

Die Veranstaltung findet online statt und beginnt am 19.04. um 14 Uhr.

Der zoom-link lautet:
https://eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/9084381833?pwd=YU1UdWJRa1BzajF4Tyt4YVlSdU1BUT09 
Meeting ID: 908 438 1833

Goal

Mein Ziel ist es, Interesse an aktuellen Fragen der Forschung zu wecken und über  spannende Forschungsprojekte zu informieren. Des Weiteren möchte ich den  Studenten Informationen über den Alltag in der Forschung liefern und Möglichkeiten für Master- und Doktorarbeiten aufzeigen.

Course Information

Content

Why do stars lose mass and what are the mechanisms behind it? This lecture will provide on overview of the different types of winds we find in stars and their physical origin. After exploring the different wind regimes (solar wind, hot stars, cool stars), the lecture will also cover the consequences of strong mass outflow on the evolution and environment of stars.

Content

* Manifolds
* Geodetics, curvature, Einstein-Hilbert action
* Einstein equations
* Cosmology
* Differential forms in General Relativity
* The Schwarzschild solution
* Schwarzschild black holes
* More on black holes (Penrose diagrams, charged and rotating black holes)
* Unruh effect and hawking radiation

Goal

After completing the course the students * have a thorough knowledge and understanding of Einstein's theory of General Relativity including the necessary tools from differential geometry and applications such as black holes, gravitational radiation and cosmology,  * have acquired the necessary mathematical tools from differential geometry, are trained in their application to physical situations with strong gravity and are familiar with their interpretation, * have advanced competence in the fields of theoretical physics covered by this course, i.e. the ability to analyze physical phenomena using the acquired concepts and techniques, to formulate models and find solutions to specific problems, and to interpret the solutions physically and communicate them efficiently, * are able to broaden their knowledge and competence in this field of theoretical physics on their own by a systematical study of the literature.

Content

Hier handelt es sich um ein Bachelor-Pflichtseminar.

*Anmeldung ist möglich ab dem  01.03.2024*

Das Seminar wird wie folgt verlaufen:

Zu Beginn des Semesters verteilen wir die Themen.
  - Am ersten Termin nach der Themenvergabe gebe ich eine Einführung in das Thema "Vorträge halten"
  - Vier Wochen vor Ihrem Vortrag versorge ich Sie mit Material
  - Eine Woche vor dem Vortrag gibt es eine Vorbesprechung (per Email oder Videokonferenz)
  - Der Vortrag wird dann in Präsenz gehalten
  - Zu Ihrem Vortrag gehört ein zweiseitiges Handout, dass an die Zuhörer verteilt wird
  - Bewertet werden der Vortrag, die Fragerunde und das Handout
  - Es wird erwartet, dass Sie sich auch als Zuhörer mit Fragen zum Vortrag beteiligen - werden keine Fragen gestellt, stelle ich Fragen an die Zuhörer

Bitte registrieren Sie sich bei Moodle und der Übungsgruppenverwaltung

Themen des Seminars:

    Methoden: Bodengebundene CR-Beobachtung
    Methoden: Satelliten CR-Beobachtung
    Methoden: Das IceCUBE-Teleskop
    Quellen: Die Sonne
    Quellen: Supernova Überreste
    Quellen: Pulsare
    Quellen: Aktive Galaxienkerne
    Beobachtung: Spektrum der kosmischen Strahlung
    Beobachtung: Cosmic ray clocks
    Beobachtung: Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin Cutoff
    Beobachtung: Solare Modulation
    Beobachtung: Neutrinospektrum
    Beobachtung: Kosmische Strahlung und Magnetfeld
    Theorie: Fokker-Planck-Gleichung
    Theorie: Fermi-Beschleunigung
    Theorie: Rekonnektion
    Exotik: Dunkle Materie Annihilation
    Exotik: Positron-Anomalie

Course Information

Content

Preparation and presentation of an advanced topic in stellar dynamics. During each lecture, at least one talk on a specific research field is given and actively discussed by
all course participants.

Selected topics in stellar dynamics of galaxies and stellar clusters. The list of topics for this year is the following.

- Dynamics of black holes in star clusters
- Hierarchical mergers of black holes in star clusters
- Dynamical formation of blue straggler stars
- Globular cluster dynamics
- The vertical phase-spiral observed by Gaia in the Milky Way
- Orbital resonances 1: radial migration
- Orbital resonances 2: perturbation theory and orbital structure near resonances
- Using the Jeans equations in the Milky Way
- Supermassive black-hole binaries and mergers

Content

This seminar is part of the master module MVAstro3 (Galactic and Extragalactic Astronomy).  It supplements the lecture contents.  It is usually being held as a block event on three or four afternoons chosen in the course; typically on Saturdays.

Content

Übungen am 70cm Teleskop der Landessternwarte Heidelberg.

Goal

Selbstständige Vorbereitung und Planung von astronomischen Beobachtungen. Eigenständige Durchführung von astronomischen Beobachtungen mit dem Teleskop.

Content

Durchführung von mehreren astrophysikalischen Versuchen je nach Kenntnisstand innerhalb einer Woche. Diese decken grosse Gebiete in der Astronomie ab. Dauer pro Versuch 1-1.5 Tage. Kein separates Protokoll oder Hausarbeit notwendig.

Goal

Selbstständige Bearbeitung experimenteller Fragestellungen. Kennenlernen und Vertiefung diverser astronomischer moderner Tools wie zB Datenreduktion, virtuelles Observatorium, Interpretation diagnostischer Diagramme.

Content

Durchführung von mehreren astrophysikalischen Versuchen je nach Kenntnisstand innerhalb einer Woche. Diese decken grosse Gebiete in der Astronomie ab. Dauer pro Versuch 1-1.5 Tage. Kein separates Protokoll oder Hausarbeit notwendig.

Goal

Selbstständige Bearbeitung experimenteller Fragestellungen. Kennenlernen und Vertiefung diverser astronomischer moderner Tools wie zB Datenreduktion, virtuelles Observatorium, Interpretation diagnostischer Diagramme.