Astrophysics and Cosmology

The course comprises the following topics: • Introduction: the high-energy astrophysics field and its history, the sky at different wavelengths. • Review of essential basic physics: radiation propagation, radiative transfer, thermal and black-body radiation, special relativity formulae. • Review of radiation processes: emission and absorption lines, Bremsstrahlung and Synchrotron radiation, Compton and Inverse-Compton scattering, pair processes, absorption processes. • HEA instrumentation: detection, observing techniques, telescopes, satellites. • Cosmic rays: composition, energy spectra, origins, ultra-high energy cosmic rays, detection techniques. • Supernovae and Supernova Remnants: evolution of low- and high-mass stars, degenerate Fermi gas and critical mass, white dwarfs, Supernovae Type Ia and Type II, Supernovae remnants, shocks, particle acceleration. • Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Neutron Star characteristics, Neutron Star cooling and internal structure, Schwarzschild Black Holes, Kerr Black Holes. • Accretion theory: radial accretion, efficiency, Eddington luminosity, application of the Eddington limit, accretion discs, maximum and minimum temperatures. • X-ray binaries: mechanisms of mass transfer, magnetospheric accretion, High Mass X-ray Binaries, accreting X-ray pulsars, Low Mass X-ray Binaries, X-ray bursts, black holes in X-ray binaries. • Pulsars: discovery and observations, evolution, rotating magnetic dipole model, emission from pulsars, radio and gamma-ray pulsars, accreting and transitional millisecond pulsars, soft gamma repeaters, anomalous X-ray pulsars, magnetars. • Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs): discovery and observations, short duration GRBs, long duration GRBs, ultra-long duration GRBs, progenitors. • Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs): observations, radio quiet and radio loud AGNs, radio galaxies, Seyfert galaxies, Quasars, Blazars, power generation, AGN ‘ingredients’, unified schemes. • Frontier subjects: Strong field gravity environments, gravitational wave sources, Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), ultra-luminous sources, very high energy sources.

a) Having the knowledge required for the first-level University degree in Physics or in Astronomy and Astrophysics is a key prerequisite b) Students must be familiar with astrophysics, emission mechanisms and radiation transfer concepts. c) Some knowledge of general relativity is also useful. Students with a clear interest in the theory are advised to take also the advanced course “gravitational waves, neutron stars and black holes”

In addition to the material made available through elearning, the following introductory monographs are suggested: (1) S. Shapiro, S. Teukolsky - Black Hole, White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars - 1983 - Wiley \& Sons, NY-NY, USA (2) P. Charles, F. Seward - Exploring the X-ray Universe - 1994 Cambridge Univ. Press 2010 Cambridge Univ. Press: expanded 2nd edition (3) M. Longair - High Energy Astrophysics 1994 Cambridge Univ. Press, Vol. 1-2 (4) W.H.G. Lewin, E.P.J. van den Heuvel - Accretion Driven Stellar X-ray Sources - 1983 Cambridge Univ. Press (5) J. Frank, A.R. King, D.J. Raine - Accretion Power in Astrophysics 1994 Cambridge Univ. Press, 2002 Cambridge Univ. Press, expanded 3rd edition (6) M. Vietri - Foundations of High Energy Astrophysics 2008 University of Chicago press (7) W.H.G. Lewin, M. van der Klis - Compact Stellar X-ray Sources - 2006 Cambridge Univ. Press

Attendance to the lectures is strongly recommended, although not compulsory.

The final exam consists in the preparation and discussion of an essay on a subject related to high energy astrophysics and chosen by the student. The essay may be written in the style of a scientific article and/or powerpoint presentation. The oral exam lasts about one hour and consists of the presentation of the essay; the student is also asked to answer a few questions about the subjects of the course. The evaluation is based on: - level of comprehension and analysis of the subjects dealt with in the essay and in the course; - accuracy and clarity.