Composition and distribution of the interstellar medium. Collisional and radiative processes. Thermodynamic. Radiative transfer. Interstellar dust: composition and interaction with radiation. Basic astrochemical processes.
Molecular clouds: structure and dynamics.
Fragmentation of molecular clouds, gravitational collapse and circumstellar discs. Jets and outflows. Massive stars: formation, evolution and interaction with the environment.
L. Spitzer: Physical Process in the Interstellar Medium
B. Draine: Physics of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium
J. Dyson & D. Williams: Physics of the Interstellar Medium
Stahler & Palla: The Formation of Stars
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
Knowledge of the absorption and emission processes of the solid and gaseous matter in the ISM.
Knowledge of the distinguishing properties of the different phases (neutral and ionised) of the ISM.
Basic principles of the dynamics of the interstellar gas (ionisation fronts, shocks, collapse).
Competence acquired :
Physical processes in HI and H2 clouds; atomic and molecular transitions; molecular structure; heating and cooling; magnetic fields.
Interaction radiation-matter in conditions of low temperature and density.
Skills Acquired:
Ability to treat the global properties of the ISM through the initial mass function, the star formation history, both Galactic and extragalactic.
Ability to treat a simplified modelisation of the molecular astrochemistry and of the gravitational collapse.
Teaching Methods
6 CFU
Lectures hours: 48
Further information
Office hours
On demand
fontani@arcetri.astro.it
Website: --
Type of Assessment
Oral test
Course program
Composition and distribution of the interstellar medium. Collisional and radiative processes. Thermodynamic and Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium. Radiative transfer and applications in the Rayleigh-Jeans approximation.
Interstellar dust: composition and interaction with radiation ( extinction and emission). Basic astrochemical processes.
Molecular clouds: structure and dynamics. Fragmentation of molecular clouds, gravitational collapse and circumstellar discs. Jets and outflows. Massive stars: formation, evolution and interaction with the environment. Initial Mass Function and Star Formation Rate.