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lec1

The document outlines the first lecture on nuclear astrophysics, covering the historical background of stellar energy sources, evolution of stars, and the processes involved in element formation within them. It discusses observational astronomy techniques, including optical, radio, and space astronomy, and highlights the properties of the Sun and stars. Key topics include nuclear reactions in stars, stellar burning stages, and the origin of elements, emphasizing the importance of accurate nuclear physics information for understanding stellar phenomena.

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issacalbert22
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6 views

lec1

The document outlines the first lecture on nuclear astrophysics, covering the historical background of stellar energy sources, evolution of stars, and the processes involved in element formation within them. It discusses observational astronomy techniques, including optical, radio, and space astronomy, and highlights the properties of the Sun and stars. Key topics include nuclear reactions in stars, stellar burning stages, and the origin of elements, emphasizing the importance of accurate nuclear physics information for understanding stellar phenomena.

Uploaded by

issacalbert22
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NUCLEAR ASTROPHYSICS

Lecture-1
Historical background, Observational astronomy, Properties of Sun and of Stars
ANIL KUMAR GOURISHETTY
PHYSICS

1
Few questions:

What is the source of energy by other stars?

How do stars evolve?

Why do few stars explode?

Is “cooking” of elements inside a star a continuous process?

Where were the elements found on Earth produced?

2
What to learn from this course?
• Fundamental ideas regarding nuclear processes occurring in stars
• Stellar observations
• Important quantum-mechanical phenomena controlling nuclear reactions
• Nuclear reactions in a hot stellar plasma
• Stellar burning stages
• Origin of elements in stars
• Experimental methods to study the abundance of elements

3
Historical background
Source of energy from the sun

Bethe and Critchfield in 1930s: Fusion of H into He (pp1 chain)

Bethe and von Weizsäcker: Cyclic reaction (CNO)

Due to avaiability of reaction cross section → accurate nuclear physics


information is crucial for our understanding of stars

4
Observational Astronomy
• Before and after the invention of telescope (First patent in 1608)
• Optical Astronomy:
The resolving power = 1.22 λ/d

Telescope with eye → with prism/grating → new light detection techniques (PMTs)
Fainter objects detection

Role of earth’s atmosphere: Weather conditions limit observing times,


absorption of EM spectrum by atmosphere, unsteady air leads to star twinkling

5
Radio astronomy: Long wavelength (1 mm to 50 mm); easy passage through earth’s
atmosphere and interstellar gas

Space astronomy: Absence of atmosphere and background light → Balloons, rockets,


satellites, space laboratories → No restriction on the wavelength

Future developments: Neutrinos, gravity waves

6
Observed structures in the cosmos
• Solar system → Sun, many smaller bodies
(planets with their satellites, asteroids, comets & meteorites) revolving around it
• Stars are hot gases following laws for P, T, density AND planets are cool objects
• Sun properties:
R☉ = 696000 km = 6.96 × 1010 cm
M☉ = 2 × 1033 g ; ☉ = 1.4 g/cm3 ; Ts = 5800 K;
L☉ = 3.83 × 1033 ergs/s = 2.39 × 1039 MeV/s constant throughout its history
Not limited to visible range…but entire EM spectrum
Solar wind: ions of variety of atomic species, predominantly Hydrogen
Neutrinos
Interior through theory….to some extent from neutrino observations
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Stars
• M/M☉ = 0.1 – 100 Majority of them • Stars are not “fixed”. Move relative to
are comparable or less than M☉ one another
• M/M☉> 10 are rare • L/L☉ = 10-4 – 106 for M/M☉ = 0.1 – 100
• Stellar temperatures: 3000 – 50000 K → L differs very greatly
→ power plants and cooking pots of • Spectrum → chemical composition. H
universe is most abundant followed by He
• Metals: Carbon and beyond
• Sun’s nearest stellar neighbor is 4 light
• High in metallic content → Population
years away (1 ly = 9.4 × 1017 cm)
I stars (Young)
• Measurements of interstellar distance • Very low in metallic content →
using trigonometric methods. Valid up Population II stars (Older)
to 30 ly. For larger distances, indirect
methods are used
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