ASTRO 358 (UNIQUE 49520)/SPRING 2008
        	     GALAXIES AND THE UNIVERSE
                	  COURSE OUTLINE 

I will try to adhere to the course calendar below as closely as possible, 
but there may be small changes, based on the course feedback. A reading list 
is given at the end. The most current version of the calendar can be found at 
    http://www.as.utexas.edu/~sj/a358-sp08/a358-sp08-calendar.txt



===  Tu Jan 15 + Th Jan 17
Read  pre-requisite material emailed to class
Review session on background pre-requisite material.

=== Tu Jan 22 + Th Jan 24:
Introduction 
Types of Galaxies
Classification schemes: Hubble-Sandage, RC3, etc


=== Tu Jan 29 + Th Jan 31
Galaxy Distributions: Field, Groups, Clusters 
Galaxy Luminosity functions 



=== Tu Feb 05
Stellar Populations and Star Formation History of Galaxies

=== Th Feb 07
IN-CLASS QUIZ ON MATERIAL COVERED TO DATE


=== Tu Feb 12 
Stellar Populations and Star Formation History of Galaxies


=== Th Feb 14 
Tracing Dark Matter in Galaxies


=== Tu Feb 19 + Th Feb 21
Tracing Dark Matter in Groups and Clusters
Candidates for Dark Matter 
Modes of structure formation in CDM vs HDM models
Dark Matter vs Dark Energy
 
=== Tu Feb 26 + Th Feb 28 
LCDM models: a first introduction
SB profile and kinematics of E, Sp

=== Th Feb 28 
Galaxy Interactions/Mergers: Impact on SF, AGN activity, structure

=== Tu Mar  04 
Galaxy Interactions/Mergers: Major and Minor mergers
Review session 


=== Th Mar 06
FIRST EXAM


=== Tu Mar 11 + Th Mar 13
Spring Break 


=== Tu Mar 18 
Hierarchical formation of Spirals and Ellipticals in LCDM models
Successes of LCDM-based models of galaxy evolution 
Challenges/Failures of LCDM-based models of galaxy evolution

===  Th Mar 20
Star formation tracers 
- Lyman Continuum Photons (L<912 A; far UV)
- Hydrogen Recombination Lines (Ly-alpha, Halpha, Pa-alpha, Br-gamma)
- Thermal Radio continuum
- Non Thermal Radio Continuum
- Far-IR continuum
- Mid-IR emission 
                                                                                             
=== Tu Mar  25 
Star formation tracers (contd)

=== Th Mar  27  
Criteria for onset of star formation 
 - Toomre Criterion for gravitional instability. 
 - Application in outer disks 
 - Application in central region of galaxies 

===Tu Apr  01 
Star formation law: Schmidt Law. 
Feedback from star formation and black holes 
Cosmic SF history and Madau plot 


=== Th Apr  03 
IN-CLASS QUIZ
Cosmology basics: Redshift, Lookback time and Angular Diameter Distance 


==  Tu Apr  08 + Th Apr 10
Galaxy surveys through cosmic time: the empirical approach to galaxy evolution
-- Important  criteria for a powerful galaxy survey
-- Latest Galaxy Surveys: GEMS, HUDF 
-- What have we learnt from galaxy surveys at different z?



== Tu Apr  15 + Th Apr  17
Galaxy surveys through cosmic time: the empirical approach to galaxy evolution
-- Important  criteria for a powerful galaxy survey
-- Latest Galaxy Surveys: GEMS, HUDF
-- What have we learnt from galaxy surveys at different z?



== Tu Apr  15 + Th Apr  17
Black Holes and Galaxy Evolution
- Rs and Rgrav
- Angular momentum problem in fueling BHs
- Energy generated by mass accretion onto a BH
- Eddington Luminosity
- BH Mass vs Bulge vel dispersion relation
- Possible reasons for BH Mass vs Bulge vel dispersion relation
- Role of AGN feedback on galaxy evolution



=== Tu Apr  22 
Scaling Relations in Galaxies
-Tully Fisher relation in spirals
-Baryonic Tully Fisher relation in spirals
-Faber Jackson in Es
-Fundamental plane of Es


=== Th Apr 24
Epilogue 


=== Tu Apr  29
Student talks 
Future facilities and challenges 

=== Th May  01
SECOND EXAM



READING 

- GU = "Galaxies in the Universe: An Introduction", by Sparke & Gallagher
        (Publisher: Cambridge University Press, copyright 2000)
- EAC = "Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology" by Peter Schneider 
        (Publisher: Spinger, copyright 2006)
- GA  = "Galactic Astronomy, by Binney and Merrifield
        (Publisher: Princeton University Press, copyright 1998)