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Observational Astronomy Lab

Information Not AvailableCCD characterisation, Orbit maker and Virtual Observatory, Night sky observations ( Polar alignment of an astronomical telescope, Estimating atmospheric extinction in different colours (filters), measuring period of binary, imaging star clusters with various filters and plotting on H-R diagram, Distance determination to Cepheid variables based on their light curves, Classification of stars based on their spectra and the use of spectral classification in deriving distances to stars, etc).

 

Cosmology

Principles of Relativity: Overview of Special Relativity – spacetime interval and Lorentz metric – four vectors – Introduction to general relativity (GR) – equivalence principle – notions of curvature – gravitation as a manifestation of the curvature of spacetime – gravitational redshift and clock corrections – orbits in strong gravity, light bending and gravitational lensing – concept of horizon and ergosphere, hydrostatic equilibrium in GR – gravitational radiation.

Galaxies (Structure, Dynamics and Evolution)

Classification of galaxies – contents and dimensions – collisionless stellar dynamics – relaxation time, dynamical friction, violent relaxation – galactic potential and orbits – spiral density wave and Lindblad resonance – rotation curves – Tully-Fisher relation – Central Black Holes and fundamental plane relationship – Mass and Luminosity function – Press Schechter formalism – Star formation history and chemical evolution – active galaxies and activity duty cycle – galaxies at high redshift - clusters and groups – evidence of dark matter

Structure and Evolution of Stars

Mechanical, Thermal and Nuclear time scales – Hydrostatic equilibrium (Newtonian and Relativistic) – Polytropic Equation of State – Lane Emden Equation – Degenerte matter Equation of State – White Dwafs and Chandrasekhar limit – Virial Theorem - Radiative Equilibrium – Schwarzschild convection criterion – nuclear energy generation – stages of nuclear burning – full set of stellar structure equations – example solutions – HR diagram and the main sequence – Schonberg-Chandrasekhar limit – post- main sequence evolution – Hayashi tracks – Horizontal branch – giant and asymptotic giant branches

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