Syllabus for PHYS 20491: Galaxies (12/13)

PHYS20491	Physics with Astrophysics core unit
Dr. E. Kerins	Physics option unit
	Credit rating: 10

Galaxies

Prerequisites: PHYS10191

Follow-up units: PHYS20692, PHYS40992

Classes: 22 lectures in S3

Assessment: 1 hour 30 minutes examination in January

Recommended Text(s):

Binney, J. & Merrifield, M. Galactic Astronomy (Princeton University Press)

Sparke, L.S. & Gallagher, J.S. Galaxies in the Universe (CUP)

Combes, F. et.al. Galaxies and Cosmology (Springer)

Feedback

Feedback will be available on students' individual written solutions to examples sheets, which will be marked, and model answers will be issued.

Aims:

To understand the observed properties of galaxies in the context of the current hierarchical structure formation theory.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. classify galaxies using the Hubble scheme.

2. discuss critically methods of distance measurement to galaxies.

3. describe the properties of the Milky Way and compare its properties to external galaxies.

4. explain how to determine the mass of a galaxy and discuss the implication of this for the existence of dark matter.

5. describe the winding dilemma and give simple explanations for spiral arms.

6. demonstrate an understanding of the basic properties of galaxy clusters.

Syllabus

1 Overview: - classification - Hubble 'tuning fork' - distances of Galaxies - luminosity function of galaxies - morphology versus density relation - formation of galaxies.

2. Milky Way: - principal components - rotation curve - Oort constants - mass budget: dark matter - satellite streams - Galactic Centre.

3. Disk galaxies: - surface brightness distribution - Tully-Fisher relation: application as a distance measurement - dynamics of disk galaxies - origin of spiral arms- properties of Galactic bars.

4. Elliptical galaxies: - surface brightness distribution - fundamental plane - black hole mass versus velocity dispersion relation - dynamics of ellipticals - morphology versus density relation (clusters of galaxies).

5. Theory: formation of galaxies - Jeans instability - spherical collapse model - hierarchical structure formation theories - formation of disk galaxies - open questions.