Observational X-ray Astrophysics

• describe the sky as seen with an X-ray instrument and compare the wide range of astrophysical sources visible at high energies
• describe and apply selected methods of imaging; coded masks, focusing X-ray optics, as well as the basic functioning of X-ray detectors
• distinguish the astrophysical processes that produce high energy emission, and relate them to the variety of X-ray sources
• explain the origin of the diffuse X-ray background
• derive and compare the fundamental properties of compact objects (white dwarves, neutron stars and black holes) and their creation as the last stages of stellar evolution
• derive and compare the properties of the X-ray binaries and the basic physics involved in accretion mechanisms
• describe and analyse the high energy phenomena that occur in the center of active galaxies
• explain and exploit X-ray observations of clusters of galaxies.
• utilize theory to quantify astrophysical properties, such as luminosity, flux, temperature, mass, distance, etc.
• present, summarize and interpret relevant scientific articles

This course deals with some of the most energetic objects and phenomena in the Universe. High-energy astrophysics is a very active area of modern astronomy, and most of what we know about its objects comes from observational studies. Due to the atmospheric absorption of high-energy photons, the observations are performed with space instruments.
The physical processes, thermal or non-thermal that produce these energetic photons are explained. The course also touches upon the basic techniques, instrumentation, observational methods, and analysis tools employed to exploit X-ray photons.

The course gives further descriptions of the observational properties of different astrophysical sources of X-rays through their temporal and spectral variations. Examples are supernova remnants, accretion mechanisms around white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes in X-ray binaries, active galaxies harbouring a supermassive black hole in their centre, and gigantic clusters of galaxies.

30120/10024/10034/10036/30400

Lectures and exercises.