The universe provides us with a large set of extraordinary laboratories to study matter under extreme conditions: The stars. They are hotter, more dense, and definetely larger than what mankind can construct. They play an important role to challenge modern physics. Statistical physics, quantum mechanics, relativity play an important role in understanding the stars and we catch a first glimpse of the basic ideas of these theories.
In this course we want to enter this field. Well equipped with knowledge about classical physics and having our tools (like calculus) at hand, we can follow the stars: From the moment gas and dust clouds condensate into stars, we then watch the stars evolving, and learn about fusion and fission as the major energy source. We will discover the different paths of the evolution, which lead to white dwarfs, black holes, neutron stars, and pulsars.
At the end of the course, we will have an idea what it means to live a stellar life. The lecture will also show what are the hot topics in the field of stellar astrophysics.
In these pages you will find information about the course. A detailed schedule for fall 2004, literature you can read, the outline of the practical project you will conduct with the UMBC telescope, and the grading system for this lecture. If you missed a lecture you can find here also the homework. Under Who is Who you find more information about the physicists behind the science we discuss.
This course is part of JCA's undergraduate program offered by UMBC physics.