Survey of
the formation of the elements in the universe as a function of cosmic
time. Review of the determination of abundances in meteorites, stars,
H II regions, and in interstellar and intergalactic gas using the
electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to X-rays. Theory of
nucleosynthesis in stars, supernovae and the Big Bang, including the
s- and r- processes and explosive nucleosynthesis. Particular
attention will be paid to the theory and observation of element
synthesis in the ``First Stars'' in the universe. Emphasis will be
made of the connection between element synthesis, the initial mass
function of star formation, and galactic evolution, including the role
of galactic winds.
Course Structure
Ay 219 is a course for graduate students and seniors in astronomy, physics,
geophysics or planetary sciences. The goal of the course is to provide
an overview of current topics and research in a field of astrophysics
that is not usually covered in depth in our standard graduate courses.
Course Format
The class will be a mixture of presentation, discussion, and
detailed analyses of selected important papers.
The first class will be an overview lecture. There each
participant will pick a special topic and class meeting date
when they will be the discussion leader. Each subsequent
meeting will have a roughly 1 hour lecture by J.Cohen followed by
a roughly 1 hour detailed discussion of the selected papers for that topic
led by the discussion leader. All participants will be required
to read carefully the selected papers and be ready to discuss them in detail
for each class. This class will meet 2 hours/week, with about
7 hours of nominal preparation per week.
Preliminary list of selected topics:
Overview
Theory of nucleosynthesis
Cosmological context
Star formation at solar and at very low metallicity
Stellar evolution at solar and at zero metallicity
Feedback from the first stars
Chemical evolution models
The Milky way galaxy
The Local Group
Beyond the local group
The IGM as revealed by QSO absorption lines
(guest lecture by W.L.W.Sargent)
