Formation of Stars and Planetary Systems

This course will cover the broad outlines of star and planetary system formation in two parts of equal length. Star formation will deal with the stability of equilibrium and stable clouds, the collapse of dense cores, protostars and their evolution, and the impact of young stars on their environment. Planetary formation will use solar system constraints and extrasolar planet detections to address the structure and evolution of protoplanetary disks, and the formation of telluric and giant planets.

This course will provide the theoretical knowledge necessary to understand the processes of stellar and planetary formation, making each time the link with the observational constraints and the most recent numerical simulations. It will prepare the students for a research work in this field using various methods.

Astrophysics

Atoms, Molecules and Radiation

Hydrodynamics

Statistical physics

Recommended Prerequisites:

Fluid dynamics in astrophysics and cosmology

Continuous assessment and final exam

1. Introduction to star formation
2. Molecular clouds
3. Gravitational collapse
4. Formation of protostellar disks
5. Main pre-sequence stars
6. Formation of massive stars
7. Consequences and by-products
8. Introduction to planetary formation
9. Disc structure
10. Evolution of the disks
11. Observations of the disks
12. Formation of planetesimals
13. Formation of telluric planets
14. Formation of giant planets
15. Extrasolar systems and new perspective on planetary formation