AST 309n - Cosmic Catastrophes

AST 309N · Cosmic Catastrophes

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Schedule

Setting the Stage: The Universe is a Strange Place (Week 1)
1. Introduction
2. Background - Gravity and Quantum Theory, Forces
Dancing with Stars (Weeks 2-3)
1. Binary Stars
2. Accretion Disks
3. White Dwarfs
Stellar Catastrophes (Weeks 4-6)
1. Supernovae
2. Supernovae 1987A
Neutron Stars (Week 7)
Black Holes in Theory: Into the Abyss (Weeks 8-9)
1. Event Horizon and Singularity
2. Black Holes in Space and Time
3. Black Hole Evaporation: Hawking Radiation
4. Fundamental Properties of Black Holes
5. Inside Black Holes
Black Holes in Fact: Exploring the Reality (Weeks 10-11)
1. Black Hole X-ray Novae
2. Miniquasars
3. Supermassive Black Holes
The Universe: Long, Long Ago and Far, Far Away (Weeks 12-13)
1. Gamma-Ray Bursts: the Birth of Black Holes
2. Probing the Size, Shape, and Fate of the Universe with Supernovae
Black Holes, Worm Holes, and Beyond: the Frontiers (Week 14)
1. Worm Holes
2. Time Machines
3. Quantum Gravity
4. String Theory
5. When the Singularity is not a Singularity
6. Extra dimensions

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15 January 2008
Astronomy Program · The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, Texas 78712
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