AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide the fundamentals of Astrophysics experimental with particular reference to the realization and use of instrumentation for observation of the cosmos.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student will have knowledge regarding: elements general astrophysics; principles and application of physical optics and geometric optics; detection of radio waves, X-rays and rays range of cosmic origin; elements of image processing and reduction computer science of astronomical data from detection to scientific use. The student will also acquire the skills necessary to provide simple instrumental and observational answers to common problems of interest in modern astrophysics.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

* General Introduction - 6 hours *
• Fundamental physics preparatory for the understanding of photon production and detection.
o Interaction of matter radiation: photoelectric effect, Compton and inverse Compton, production of pairs.
o Cherenkov radiation. Extended air showers
o Basic emission mechanisms of astrophysical sources: BlackBody, Bremsstrahlung, Ciclo-Synchrotron emission, Inverse Compton. Examples of related astrophysical sources.
• From the electromagnetic spectrum to multimessenger astrophysics
* Optical-NIR Astrophysics * *
• Elements of optics. (6 hrs) *
o Snell's Law, Refraction, reflection. Principles of geometric optics and physics.
o Aberrations and impact on the instrumentation of astrophysical interest
o Paraxial models (Geometric Optics) and Ray Tracing.
o Pupil and focal plane concepts
o Telescopes and their main designs. Advantages and disadvantages
• Imaging tools (6 hrs)
o Focal reducers, photometric systems and concepts of observable parameters (magnitude, surface brightness, etc.)
o Concepts of plate scale, F-Number and optical parameters.
o Point spread function.
o Examples of instrumentation
o Data reduction. Use of SExtractor. Principles of photometry.
* Spectroscopy (6 hrs) *
o Grating elements and basic concepts of spectroscopy.
o Concept of spectral range, spectral power, resolution, dispersion
o Grating-based instrumentation and applications
o Echelle grating
o Very high resolution and stability instrumentation. Examples (HARPS, ESPRESSO)
o MOS - Multi object spectrographs
o Data reduction. Use of IRAF / Python for reduction of long-slit spectra
* High Energy Astrophysics *
• * X-Ray astronomy (3 hrs) *
o Telescope mirrors X
o X-photon detectors. Applications to space instrumentation. Performance evaluation and comparison with OPT-NIR instrumentation
o Future prospects (e.g. ATHENA)
• * Gamma-Rays astronomy. (3 hrs) *
o Coded masks. Detection of gamma photons o Gamma missions: AGILE and FERMI. Instrumentation and fundamental results. Limits in the energy range
• * Ultra High Energy (UHE) gamma-ray astronomy. (6 hrs) *
o Why observe gamma photons from Earth.
o Cherenkov telescopes. Fundamental concepts of Cherenkov instrumentation. Mirrors, Cherenkov rooms. Photon detection mechanisms and background distinction or MAGIC, HESS, VERITAS. o ASTRI and CTA. New observation window in the electromagnetic spectrum> 20TeV.
o Synergistic astrophysical applications to Fundamental and Laboratory Physics
o Use of data-analysis and simulation tools for Cherenkov telescopes. The case of the ctools suite.
* Radio Astronomy (3 hrs) *
• Mechanisms of radiation detection (ADC, antennas, superheterodyne, etc)
• Single dish systems. Advantages and disadvantages. Examples of instrumentation and astrophysics application (e.g. SRT) • Beam forming systems (low frequency). LOFAR, SKA-LOW and astrophysical applications. Advantages and disadvantages. • Interferometry. High spatial radio resolution (SKA-mid, EHT).
• Hints to millimetric and submillimetric (e.g. ALMA)
* Exercise (6 hrs) *
• Writing of an ESO proposal for the XSHOOTER spectrograph
• Preparation of observations with ESO's p2 system

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Attilio Ferrari - Stars, Galaxies and the Universe

2. Howell - Introduction to CCD astronomy

3. Kraus - Radio Astronomy

4. Radiative processes in Astrophysics - Ghisellini

5. Various papers + handouts

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD