Formation of Stars and Planetary Systems

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.

This course will provide the theoretical knowledge necessary to understand the processes of star and planet formation, while consistently linking these concepts to observational constraints and the most recent numerical simulations. It will prepare students for research in this field using a variety of methods.

Astrophysics

Atoms, Molecules, and Radiation

Hydrodynamics

Statistical Physics

Recommended prerequisites:

Fluid Dynamics in Astrophysics and Cosmology

Ongoing Assessment and Final Exam

1. Introduction to Star Formation
2. Molecular clouds
3. Gravitational collapse
4. Formation of protostellar disks
5. Pre-main-sequence stars
6. Formation of Massive Stars
7. Consequences and byproducts
8. Introduction to Planetary Formation
9. Disk Structure
10. The Evolution of Records
11. Observations of the disks
12. Formation of Planetesimals
13. Formation of the terrestrial planets
14. The Formation of Giant Planets
15. Exoplanetary Systems and a New Perspective on Planetary Formation