Topics and Readings for Ay102
(Physics of the Interstellar Medium)

Hillenbrand - Winter Term 2020

Note that the syllabus is subject to changes as we go along,
and that it may include more topics/material than we can actually cover in class,
especially towards the end of the term.

DS = Dopita & Sutherland (very readable, and covers everything)
K = Kwok (good on the basics, then delves into detail)
T = Tielens (somewhat more advanced overall, i.e. skips over some basics and explanations)
D = Draine (covers everything in small bites, though in detail; read only the non-starred sections)


Week
(# and date)
Topics Recommended Reading Advanced Reading
1 / Jan 6 Introduction
The Empty Interstellar Medium
Overview of the Constituents of the ISM
Overview of the Physical Structure of the ISM
Forms of Radiation from the ISM
Review of Radiative Transfer
DS: Chapter 1
K: Chapters 1, 2
T: Chapter 1
D: Chapters 1, 2, 7, 12
K: Chapter 3 (this concerns measurement terminology, which we don't have time to cover)
K: Chapter 17 (this touchs on the extragalactic context of the material)
2 / Jan 13 Spectral Line Radiative Transfer: Emission/Absorption, Line Shapes

Atom/Ion Structure and Radiation Physics
Radiative Processes
Electronic Structure, Spectroscopic Notation
Permitted, Semi-Forbidden, and Forbidden Transitions
Fine and Hyperfine Lines
DS: 2.1, 3, 4, 5
K: 4.1, 4.2, 5.1-5.5
T: 2.1 (atoms) - 2.3
D: 4, 6
3 / Jan 20 Collisional Processes
Two- and Three-Level Atoms

The Atomic ISM
Radiation from Important Atoms and Singly Ionized Species
Atomic Gas in the ISM: The two-phase CNM/WNM
DS: 6
K: 5.4 onward, 6.1-6.4
D: 3, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 29
4 / Jan 27 The Ionized ISM
WIM
Photoionization and Recombination
HII Region Equilibrium
Photon Dominated Regions
Spectra of Ionized regions: H, He, metals
Continuum Radiation: Free-Free, Synchrotron
DS: 9
K: 4.3 onward, 6.5 onward
T: 7 D: 18
D: 13, 14, 15
5 / Feb 3 The Molecular ISM
Molecular Gas in the ISM: the CMM
Rotational, Vibrational, Electronic Transitions
Formation and Destructions of Molecules
ISM Chemistry
DS: 2.2-2.6, 13
K: 7.1-7.9, 9.1-9.7, 14
T: 2.1 (molecules), 4
D: 5, 20, 31, 32, 33
K: 7.10-7.12, 8
T: 10
6 / Feb 10 The Dusty ISM
Effects and Role of Dust in the ISM
Radiation from Dust
Dust Grain Size, Shape, and Composition
Grain Optics
Formation and Destruction of Dust
DS: 12
K: 10
T: 5
D: 21-26
K: 11, 12, 13
T: 6
7 / Feb 17 From ISM to Stars to ISM
Star Formation
Impact of New Stars on the ISM (Jets/Outflows, Expanding HII and PDR Regions)
Impact of Old Stars on the ISM (Massive Star and AGB Winds)
K: 15.2-15.5, 15.8 D: 41, 42, 28
8 / Feb 24 The Global ISM
HIM and Collisional Ionization
Cosmic Rays
Heating and Cooling Rates
The Galactic Ecosystem
The three-phase ISM: Equilibrium
DS: 7, 14
K: 16, 17
T: 2.2-2.6, 3, 8, 9
DS: 10
D: 27, 30, 34, 40
9 / Mar 2
lynne away W-F
The Dynamic ISM
Gas (Hydro)Dynamics
Turbulence, Shocks
Supernovae
The three-phase ISM: Energy Inputs and Losses
DS: 8
K: 15.1, 16
T: 11, 12
DS: 11
D: 35-39
K: 15.6, 16.7
T: 13
10 / Mar 9

Revisit fundamentals from first 6 weeks, especially concepts commonly stated as unclear on the mid-term assessment.

Tie together material on the global and dynamic ISM from last 3 weeks.

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11 / Mar 16 Exam Week


last updated 2020, Feb 14