Astronomy 871
Physics of the Interstellar Medium
Autumn Quarter 2008
Topic Schedule
The following is a rough schedule of the topics to be covered
during each week. The corresponding Lecture
Notes are available in PDF format, usually the week before a major
section begins.
At the start of the quarter, the schedule for the last weeks will
be less detailed, as some topics may spill over or get skipped as
time and the expressed interests of the class dictate.
- Part 1 (Sep 24-Oct 3):
- Introduction to the ISM and General ISM Models
- Part 2 (Oct 6-17): Neutral Atomic Gas
- UV Absorption Lines
- HI 21cm Emission & Absorption.
- Part 3 (Oct 20-31): Ionized Gas
- Photoionization Equilibrium, Ionization Structure, and Thermal Properties.
- Nebular Diagnostics (Density, Temperature, & Abundances)
- Part 4 (Nov 3-Nov 14): Interstellar Dust
- Interstellar Extinction, Optical & Physical Properties of Grains.
- Interstellar Polarization, Thermal Emission from Grains,
Element Depletion onto Grains.
- Part 5 (Nov 17-26): Molecular Gas
- CO and Tracer Molecules
- Molecular Hydrogen, Properties of Molecular Clouds and PDRs
- Part 6 (Dec 1-5): The Hot ISM
Updated: 2008 Sept 26 [rwp]