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Astronomy II

2024/2025
Programme:
Physics, First Cycle
Orientation:
Physics
Year:
2 year
Semester:
second
Kind:
mandatory
ECTS:
4
Language:
slovenian
Lecturer (contact person):
Hours per week – 2. semester:
Lectures
3
Seminar
0
Tutorial
1
Lab
0
Prerequisites

Enrollment in the second year of studies.

Content (Syllabus outline)

Our Galaxy: properties of our Galaxy, observational methods, components, structure and dynamics of our Galaxy, black hole in its centre.
Normal galaxies: classification and basic properties of galaxies, methods for distance determination, dark matter problem, modern sky surveys, models of galactic formation and evolution.
Active galaxies: types and properties of active galaxies, energetics and unified model with a supermassive black hole.
Spatial distribution of galaxies: clusters and superclusters of galaxies, dark matter in clusters.
Cosmology: cosmological principle, Olbers' paradox, Hubble's law. Big Bang, primordial nucleosynthesis, microwave background radiation. Friedman's equation and cosmological models. Measuring cosmological parameters. Open problems in cosmology: dark matter, dark energy, flatness of the Universe etc.

Readings

M. H. Jones, R. J.A. Lambourne, S. Serjeant: An Introduction to Galaxies and Cosmology, Cambridge University Press, 2015

Objectives and competences

Acquiring knowledge about methods and results of research on the Universe at large scales, its beginning and evolution.

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:
Understanding of galaxies and the Universe as a whole.
Application:
Methods and results of extra-galactic astrophysics and cosmology are the basis of modern physical picture of the Universe.
Reflection:
Reflection on our position in the Universe, history of the Universe and on universality of physical laws in the whole observable Universe.
Transferable skills:
Application of mathematical and physical knowledge and deduction in problem solving.

Learning and teaching methods

Lectures, numerical problems, projects and consultations.

Assessment

Mark from projects and colloquia/written exam
Mark from oral exam
grading: 5 (fail), 6-10 (pass) (according to the Statute of UL)

Lecturer's references

Dunja Fabjan:

  • RIHTARŠIČ, Gregor, BIFFI, Veronica, FABJAN, Dunja, DOLAG, Klaus, et al. Environmental dependence of AGN activity and star formation in galaxy clusters from Magneticum simulations. Astronomy & astrophysics. let. 683, march 2024, a57, str. 1-14. ISSN 1432-0746
  • BIFFI, Veronica, FABJAN, Dunja, et al. The origin of ICM enrichment in the outskirts of present-day galaxy clusters from cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 2018, vol. 476, issue 2, str. 2689-2703. ISSN 1365-2966.
  • PLANELLES, Susana, FABJAN, Dunja, BORGANI, Stefano, MURANTE, Giuseppe, RASIA, Elena, et al. Pressure of the hot gas in simulations of galaxy clusters. Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, ISSN 1365-2966, 2017, vol. 467, issue 4, str. 3827-3847
  • FABJAN, Dunja, et al. X-ray mass proxies from hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy clusters – I. Monthly notices of the royal astronomical society, ISSN 0035-8711, 2011, vol. 416, issue 2, str. 801-816
  • FABJAN, Dunja, et al. Evolution of the metal content of the intracluster medium with hydrodynamical simulations. Monthly notices of the royal astronomical society, ISSN 0035-8711, 2008, vol. 386, issue 3, str. 1265-1273