Course Outline:
Basically all astronomical objects in the universe are fluids, governed by the laws of gravity, and thermodynamics. Every kind of fluid flow observed here on earth, occurs in the universe on a truly grand scale. Fluid dynamical processes are the driving force behind most fundamental processes in the universe, i.e. spiral density waves in galaxies, triggering bursts of star formation in the spiral arms as it passes through a region, solar and stellar flares, stellar evolution, instabilities in stars giving rise to stellar pulsation, accretion processes in binary systems, as well as the super-relativistic jets ejected by black holes in the heart of galaxies, to name just a few. Since fluid dynamics play such an important role in astrophysics, it is of the utmost importance that the properties of fluids are well understood. The purpose of this course is therefore to give aspiring astrophysicists an extensive broad introduction to the fundamental fluid processes in a wide range of astrophysical environments.
Syllabus:
- The equations of fluid motion
- Viscosity and Diffusion in astrophysical environments
- Vorticity and rotation in astrophysical environments
- Supernova blast waves, Shocks and Fronts in astrophysical environments
- Fluid instabilities in astrophysical environments
- Turbulence in astrophysical environments
- Gravitational collapse and star formation
- Accretion, accretion discs in galactic and extra-galactic sources
- Magnetic stellar wind theory
References:
- An introduction to Astrophysical Hydrodynamics, Steven N. Shore
- The Physics of Astrophysics, Volume II: Gas Dynamics, Frank H. Shu
- Accretion power in astrophysics, second edition, Frank J., King A.R., Raine D.
- Magnetohydrodynamics in binary stars, C.G. Campbell