Relativistic Astrophysics and compact objects. Phenomenology of compact objects. Introduction to general relativity. Astrophysical applications: explosive motions (supernovae and gamma ray bursts), relativistic stars, black holes, electrodynamics of compact objects. Non-thermal radiation and particles. Non-thermal radiation processes and application to supernova remnants and Pulsar Wind Nabulae. Phenomenology of cosmic rays. Acceleration of particles.
M. Vietri - Astrofisica delle alte energie, Boringhieri.
G. Rybicki & A. Lightman – Radiative processes in Astrophysics, Wiley.
S. Weinberg – Gravitation and cosmology, Wiley.
Learning Objectives
To acquire the bases of relativistic astrophysics, of general relativity, of radiative processes and of particle acceleration.
Prerequisites
Fluid dynamics, electromagnetism, basic astrophysical processes. Course suggested for the second year of the Magistrale.
Teaching Methods
6 CFU, 48 hours.
Frontal lectures with the aid of electronic slides.
Further information
Pdf lectures provided to students.
Appointments for students:
luca.delzanna@unifi.it
Type of Assessment
Oral examination.
Course program
First part: relativistic Astrophysics and compact objects. Phenomenology: supernovae, pulsar, compact X-ray binaries, gamma ray bursts, active galactic nucei. Special relativity, Lorentz transformations, tensors, relativistic mechanics, electrodynamics, and hydrodynamics. Principles of general relativity, space-time metric, affine connections, general covariance. Mechanics, electrodynamics, and hydrodynamics in the presence of a gravitational field. Curvature tensor, Einstein’s field equations. Weak fields and gravitational waves. Classical tests of general relativiity. Astrophysical applications: explosive motions (supernovae and gamma ray bursts), structure of relativistic stars, collapse to a black hole, black holes (metric properties and orbits), electrodynamics of compact objects.
Second part: non-thermal radiation and particles. Radiation from particles in relativistic motion. Bremsstrahlung, synchrotron and inverse Compton radiation. Autoabsorption. Non-thermal particles spectrum. Application to supernova remnants and plerions. Basics of hadronic processes. The problem of the origin of cosmic rays. Fermi mechanism. Shocks and non-thermal particles..