Professor
John Scalo
Office: RLM 17.220
Phone: (512) 471-6446
parrot@astro.as.utexas.edu
Course Web Site
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Textbooks and Readings
Readings will be assigned in two textbooks:
Dyson, J. E. & Williams, D. A., The Physics of the Interstellar Medium (2nd edition, 1997)
Spitzer, L., Physical Processes in the Interstellar Medium (2nd edition, 1978)
These books, along with other readings, will be kept on the reserve shelf in Peridier Library. If you wish to
purchase your own copy, I suggest you purchase the book(s) on-line. Check BestBookBuys for a list of
booksellers and availability. The Co-op claims the books are not in stock at the publisher, but they appear
available online. The costs are about $40 (D&W) and $50 (S) even for paperback editions.
There will be a number of excerpts and papers assigned; hard copies of these will be in Peridier, and pdfs
will be at the class web site.
Grading
There will be 4-5 homework sets (30%) and one exam (near the end of the semester (30%). I will
make clear the potential topics for the exam. Homework can be handwritten as long as it is clearly legible.
I will be happy to help you with homework during office hours, or at other times if more convenient. Students
will also turn in a short review paper of the current literature on a topic of relevance to their own interests or
research (20%). Students will consult with the instructor before deciding on the topic, but should decide
before the fourth week of classes. This paper must be typed. Keeping up with the class material and having
a good set of notes for future reference is important, and so students will turn in their notes
(on lectures and on readings) near the end of the semester. The quality of these notes, plus class
participation, will count for 20% of the final grade.
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