This module is designed to give students familiarity with modern methods for probing the atmospheres and interiors of stars. It will deal with radiative transfer in stellar atmospheres (to cover line formation); mixing length theory of convection (with relevance for observation of granulation properties in stars, excitation of Sun-like oscillations, and relevance to stellar dynamos (see below); helioseismology and asteroseismology, including the theory of oscillations, and probing stellar interiors using the oscillations; and activity in stars (including dynamo theory, and the dynamic evolution of stars). Synergies between asteroseismology and searches for exoplanets will also be covered (e.g., use of asteroseismology to place constraints on ages and planetary sizes for exoplanet systems revealed by transit searches).
The topics to be covered are:
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Introduction
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Radiative Transfer in Stellar Photospheres
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Absorption and Emission Lines
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Schwarzschild Criterion for Onset of Convection
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Mixing Length Theory of Convection
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Variation of Convective Properties along Main Sequence
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Origins of Acoustic Pulsations in Stars: Classical and Sun-like Pulsators
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Theory of Oscillations
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Oscillations as Probes of Internal Structures and Dynamics
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Observations of Activity in the Sun and Stars
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Dynamo Theory
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Evolution of Rotation in Stars, and Magnetic Braking