Structure and Stellar Evolution

A large part of our understanding of the Universe relies on the understanding and accurate modeling of stars. Stars constitute a very important part of the integrated light of galaxies, they are major contributors to the chemical and dynamical evolution of galaxies. In this course, we will discuss the physics describing the stellar structure and we will study how this structure evolves over time in the case of isolated stars.

The objectives are to provide the physical keys for the understanding of the structure and evolution of stars and their observational properties from the pre-main sequence phase to the end of their nuclear life for stars of all masses and chemical compositions.

At the end of this course, students will know the classical physical processes (equation of state, matter-radiation interaction, nucleosynthesis, ...) governing the structure and evolution of stars and their modeling. They will have notions of the modifications brought by the introduction of non-standard matter transport processes in these models. They will also have a basic understanding of stellar pulsations.

Astrophysics

Radiation Transfer and Stellar Atmospheres

The evaluation is done in the form of a continuous assessment and a final exam

1. Introduction to stellar physics
2. The equations of the 1D stellar structure
3. Equation of state
4. Thermonuclear reactions and nucleosynthesis
5. Opacities and heat transport modes in stellar interiors
6. Detailed analysis of stellar evolution: low-mass, intermediate-mass, and massive stars
7. Physics and stellar evolution beyond the classical model
8. Introduction to the physics of stellar variability