Ay 211, Spring '02: Lecture plan (subject to modifications)
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[W] = Wal
[G] = George

Apr 4  [G] Cosmology refresher: cosmological parameters, standard formulae,
           distances, etc.; early universe in a nutshell.

Apr 8  [G] A summary of the modern ideas about galaxy and structure formation.
           Observations of galaxy formation and early evolution.  Biased
           galaxy formation, the evolution of bias.
  
Apr 11 [W] Refresher on the Physics of interstellar gas.  H I regions, H II 
           regions.  H_2, CO, Excited fine structure levels.  Line formation. 
           Calculation of curve of growth.  Introduction to QSO absorption lines.

Apr 15 [G] No class that day.  A make-up class will be arranged, date&time TBD.
TBD        Cosmological constant and the dark energy.  The nature of the dark 
           matter: observational constraints from dark halos, laboratory searches.

Apr 18 [G] Connections between galaxy and QSO formation: mergers, interactions,
           binary QSOs; M_bh vs. sigma or L_old* correlations; QSO demographics.

Apr 22 [G] High-z quasars as probes of large-scale structure and its evolution.

Apr 25 [G] Evidence for obscured AGN population(s): optical, x-ray, radio;
           unification schemes.  AGN contribution to the overall energy budget 
           in the universe.  Diffuse backgrounds.  Chandra and SIRTF.

Apr 29 [G] No class that day.  A make-up class will be arranged, date&time TBD.
TBD        GRBs as absorption probes; other cosmological uses of GRBs; prospects
           for detecting GRBs at z >~ 5.  The first stars and AGN.  Reionization era.

May 2  [W] Chemical evolution of galaxies, Cosmochronolgy, Evolution of massive stars.

May 6  [W] UV spectroscopy: expected lines from dilute gas. Types of absorption
           systems. BALs, HE systems, Ly alpha forest, Damped systems, Lyman 
           limit systems.

May 9  [W] DLA systems.  Properties and statistics.  Associated H I 21 cm 
           absorption.  Deduction of size via absn. against extended radio
           sources.  Rotation measure.  Presence of dust.  Interpretation as 
           primitive disks.  Element abundances.  Identification of absorbers.

May 13 [W] Ly alpha forest. N(z), distribution of W with Press explanation, 
           distribution of N(H I), clustering as f(z), associated HE, proximity
           effect with explanation in terms of J.  The ``real'' z_em.
           Search for local associated objects.  Existence of narrow lines.

May 16 [W] Cosmological simulations of the Ly alpha forest.  Feedback.

May 20 [W] The first stars. Ionization of IGM, etc.
  
May 23 [W] Student Presentations (1)

May 27 No class -- Memorial Day!

May 30 [G] Student presentations (2)