Radiative processes: radiation from relativistic moving charges, high energy radiative processes (synchrotron, inverse Compton scattering), examples of astrophysical sources. General Relativity: the equivalence principle, physics in a curved spacetime, Einstein equations, weak fields and gravitational waves, strong fields and compact objects (neutron stars and black holes).
G. Rybicki & A. Lightman – Radiative processes in Astrophysics (Wiley).
S. Weinberg - Gravitation and Cosmology (Wiley).
Learning Objectives
The course provides the background for the study of relativistic astrophysics, and of compact objects in particular. The course is open to students from all curricula. Previous knowledge is what learned in the laurea triennale; it is preferred but not necessary to have attended an introductory course on general relativity. The same subjects can be further deepen in the course High Energy Astrophysics.
Prerequisites
Fluid dynamics, electromagnetism, relativity.
Teaching Methods
6 CFU, 48 hours.
Frontal lectures with the aid of electronic slides.
Further information
Pdf lectures provided to students.
Students are received on appointment.
Type of Assessment
Examination type: only oral, of the duration of approximately one hour, consisting in the exposition of two arguments chosen at the moment by the professor, one about radiative processes and one about general relativity and applications.
Evaluation: the student should use an appropriate language demonstrating the comprehension of the main physical processes and of how the initial assumptions determine the final results, developing the necessary calculations at the blackboard. More specific questions could be asked during the exposition to better determine the level of comprehension.
The professor should be contacted by email to arrange the date for the exam, and for a preliminary consulting if necessary.
Course program
Introduction: overview on compact objects and high-energy astrophysics. First part - Radiative processes: Emission of radiation from moving charges, relativistic effects, radiative processes characteristic of high-energy astrophysics (synchrotron and inverse Compton). Astrophysical applications: spectra from astrophysical sources such as supernova remnants and active galactic nuclei, Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. Second part - General Relativity: equivalence principle, metric and physics in a curved spacetime, Riemann tensor and Einstein field equations, weak field limit. Astrophysical applications: propagation of gravitational waves and emission from a binary system, relativistic hydrodynamics and structure of compact stars, gravitational collapse, black holes, orbits in Schwarzschild and Kerr geometries.