AST 3100 Astrophysical Transients

Prof. Marten van Kerkwijk (mhvk at astro.utoronto.ca)
Dr. Ziggy Pleunis (ziggy.pleunis at dunlap.utoronto.ca)

University of Toronto, Fall 2022

Mondays 02:00 PM in AB113
Thursdays 11:00 AM in AB113
Zoom (see email for passcode)

Syllabus (v221007)

Schedule

• Weeks 1—2: Transient phase space and the history of discovery (ZP)
  • Slides
  • In-class presentation 1 (10%)
• Weeks 3—4: Transient emission mechanisms (MvK)
  • Arnett's semi-analytic evolution notes
  • Week 3 Monday Lecture notes
  • Week 3 Thursday Lecture notes
  • Week 4 Monday Lecture notes
  • Week 4 Thursday Lecture notes
  • Homework assignment 1 (15%)
• Weeks 5—8: Examples
  • Week 5: Fast radio bursts (ZP) Slides
  • Week 6: Magnetar flares (MvK)
  • Week 7: Gamma-ray bursts (ZP) Slides
  • Week 8: Supernovae (MvK)
  • In-class presentation 2 (20%)
• Weeks 9—10: Missing pieces
  • Week 9: Single stars (ZP)
    • Slides
    • Notes on thermal instability and the helium flash
    • Notes on dynamical instability
  • Week 10: Binary stars (MvK)
    • Notes on binaries
    • Thursday Lecture notes
    • Homework assignment 2 (15%)
• Weeks 11—12: Exploring current and future transients
  • Final project (30% + 10%)