M2 - Astrophysics

This course will cover the main aspects of star and planetary system formation in two equal-length parts. The section on star formation will address the stability of clouds in equilibrium, the collapse of dense cores, protostars and their evolution, and the impact of young stars on their environment. Planetary formation will draw on constraints from the solar system and detections of exoplanets to address the structure and evolution of protoplanetary disks, as well as the formation of terrestrial planets and giant planets.

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English tutorial course for students in the Master 2 Physics program who are preparing for a career in an English-speaking professional environment in a contemporary context.

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This course covers the essential fundamentals needed for a solid understanding of the physics of stellar atmospheres and stellar winds. The key elements of radiation transfer theory are covered, both in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and out of LTE, as well as the description of the gas (equation of state) and its interaction with the radiation field (opacities). Modern models and simulations are presented along with their application to determining stellar parameters—particularly chemical composition—through spectroscopy. The different types of stellar winds (pressure, radiative, and hybrid) are described using theories compared with observational data.

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During the “Observational Astrophysics 2” course, students must complete all stages of an observational astrophysics study. From defining the spectroscopic or photometric observations to be conducted during a four-night stay at the Haute-Provence Observatory, to modeling and critically discussing their measurements and writing a scientific report, students take an active role in this course.

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The goal is to present the various observations and associated theoretical concepts—known as cosmological probes—that have helped establish the so-called “concordance” ΛCDM cosmological model. The course is divided into chapters of roughly equal length. It is supplemented by a series of seminars presented by students (flipped classroom) that delve deeper into more observational and technical aspects (based on a publication from a major collaboration).

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Interstellar Medium: Physicochemical Processes—Phases—Radioastronomy.

This course provides an introduction to the physicochemical processes relevant to the interstellar medium (dynamic, thermal, and chemical processes) as well as the associated observational techniques (molecular spectroscopy, radio astronomy). The main phases of the interstellar medium (ionized, atomic, and molecular phases) are also covered.

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This course lays the foundation for our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies, ranging from the astrophysical processes at play on small scales—such as star formation—to environmental effects on very large scales. A two-pronged approach will be used, focusing on both theoretical and observational aspects.

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Much of our understanding of the Universe relies on understanding and accurately modeling stars. Stars account for a very large portion of the total light emitted by galaxies, and they are major contributors to the chemical and dynamical evolution of galaxies. In this course, we will explore the physics underlying stellar structure and examine how this structure evolves over time in the case of isolated stars.

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A 4-month laboratory internship designed to provide immersion in the world of research and prepare students for their thesis.

This internship can be completed in a research laboratory in France or abroad.

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This course unit introduces astrophysical instruments and the signal processing tools used in their operation.

The focus is on instruments with high angular resolution and high contrast (interferometry, adaptive optics, coronography, etc.).

In addition, this course introduces the fundamentals of digital signal processing and presents a general methodology—based on the modeling of instrumental effects—for image reconstruction or the optimal analysis of measurements.

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Research in astrophysics draws on a variety of approaches (observations, theory, modeling, simulation), all of which rely on advanced computational tools.

To best prepare students in the M2 Astrophysics program for a research career, this module offers them—in a setting different from that of an internship—the opportunity to conduct an individual, supervised computational project on a topic proposed by a mentor, focusing on the use and/or development of professional-grade code to address a specific astrophysical question.

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