765649S
Astrophysics
an advanced course (10 credits)
at the Space Physics and Astronomy research unit, University of Oulu
The course period: January 7 – April 24, 2026
Lectures, exercise and practical sessions take place usually on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 14-16, see Peppi for detail. However, classes on Thursday will only occur when I announce them!
The course is lectured in English
Teacher: Vitaly Neustroev, MA 308, vitaly[-at-]neustroev.net
Assistent: Paula Kvist, paula.kvist [-at-] oulu.fi
Course plan:
- Stellar structure and evolution
- Radiative processes
- Stellar photospheres
- Interstellar Medium
- etc…
Theoretical and practical considerations will be supplemented with the home exercises which constitute the important part of the course.
Literature:
Textbook choice for this course is largely a matter of personal taste. I provide below a list of recommended books. Study them in parallel with the lectures.
- Stellar Structure and Evolution – Onno Pols, Utrecht, 2014 (Free)
- An Introduction to the Theory of Stellar Structure and Evolution – Dina Prialnik
- Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics: Vol 2 – E. Böhm-Vitense
- Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics: Vol 3 – E. Böhm-Vitense
- Observations and analysis of stellar photospheres – D. F. Gray [E-Book]
- Lecture notes – not enough!
Compulsory problems (return by the deadline). 5+ sets (30% of the final score).
- deadline 28.01.2026 [set 1]
Schedule
- Lecture 1: January 7: Introduction (What is Astrophysics and Theoretical Astrophysics? Astronomical units). Stars (Role of stars; Definition; What can we learn from observations?).
PDF - January 8: NO CLASS
- Lecture 2: January 14: Stars (Properties of stars; Stellar timeline; basic assumptions, mass conservation, hydrostatic equilibrium).
PDF - Lecture 3: January 19: Stars (Virial theorem. Timescales of stellar evolution. Conditions in stellar interiors).
PDF - Lecture 4: January 21: Stars (Energy generation. The equation of conservation of energy). Basics about radiative transfer (Specific intensity. Absorption coefficient).
PDF - Lecture 5: January 22: Basics about radiative transfer (Radiation terms, specific intensity, interaction radiation – matter, parallel-ray radiative transfer equation, solution of the parallel-ray RTE)
PDF
Compulsory problems: Set 1 (return by January 28). - Lecture 6: January 26: Basics about radiative transfer (Mean Intensity, Flux, and K-integral. RTE in plane-parallel atmosphere. The temperature gradient for radiative transport). The equations of stellar structure and possible ways to solve them. Boundary conditions.
PDF - Lecture 7: January 28: Convection and conditions for its occurrence. Equation of state (EOS). Degeneracy pressure.
PDF - Exercise session: January 29:
starts at 14:30