69059 - Radioastronomy

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will gain a deeper knowledge of the concepts regarding the synchrotron radiation and its relation with other processes of the production of radiation in astrophisics. The student will have advanced knowledge on new topics regarding radioastronomy, in the general scenario of modern astrophysical research. The student will be able to understand and present in a critical manner research papers on arguments discussed during the course.

Course contents

a) Emission mechanisms and some aspects of synchrotron theory (e.g. polarization, ageing, magnetic field etc.)

b) Radio emission of normal galaxies: HII regions, supernovae, different components, the Milky Way (outline of the optical and radio emission of the different components (disk, halo), the spectral characteristics, the thermal and non-thermal components; outline of the X and gamma emission; the magnetic field).

c) Magnetic field: synchrotron emission, polarization, Faraday rotation, Zeeman effect, magnetic field in the Galaxy and in the galactic centre, magnetic field in spiral galaxies.

d) Interstellar medium: brief description of the composition, HI, masers, molecules. Molecules and star formation in galaxies. Molecules and kinematics in galaxies.

e) A multi-wavelength view of the Galactic Center: HI, radio (spectrum, variability, polarization of the various components), IR, molecules and maser, X emission.

f) Radio Stars: radio surveys and the radio H-R diagram, radio emission from stellar atmospheres, radio flares from cool stars, quiescent emission from coronae of cool stars, radio flares and coronal heating, stellar magnetic fields, radio coronal structures, radio emission from chromospheres and winds, star formation and solar-stellar connection, radio emission from brown dwarfs, stellar astrometry.

g) Supernovae: optical characteristics, supernovae remnants ( radio properties, dynamical evolution, brightness-diameter relation, energy considerations).

h) Pulsars: properties (distribution, period, prifile, radio spectrum, brightness temperature, age, distance, luminosity function). Neutron stars: mass, radius, moment of inertia, structure, magnetosphere, energetics, gravitational physics in the strong-field regime, keplerian and post-keplerian parameters, the double pulsars.  

i) Radio emission from stellar end-products: jets in cataclismic variables, X binaries, microquasars (general properties, superluminal motions, multi-frequency data in the context of the current model).

l) Radio emission in spiral galaxies: spectrum, polarization of the components, comparison with the X-ray emission, luminosity function, radio-IR/radio-CO correlation and discussion of a simple model, estimates of stellar formation, HI, rotation curves, dark matter, Tully-Fisher relation, the environment.

m) Radio faint population: observational technique, counts, radio/FIR relation, composition, optical and radio properties.

 

m') (new) Diffuse emission in clusters of galaxies, non-thermal plasma and its interaction with the thermal plasma.

n) New radiotelescopes.

Readings/Bibliography

a) Verschuur G.L., Kellermann K.I., "Galactic and Extragalactic Radioastronomy", Springer-Verlag

b) Longair M.S., "High Energy Astrophysics", Cambridge University Press - 

c) Manchester R.N., Taylor J.H., "Pulsars", Freeman and Co., San Francisco -

d) Rohlfs K., Wilson T.L., "Tools of Radio Astronomy" Springer

e) Fanti C. e Fanti R. "Una finestra sull'Universo Invisibile" (dispense)

f) papers published in scientific journals

Teaching methods

Lectures and exercises 

Assessment methods

oral examination

Links to further information

http://www.ira.inaf.it/~ddallaca/Radioastronomy.html

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Dallacasa