Educational offer - University of Padova

Information on the course unit

Degree course	Second cycle degree in ASTROPHYSICS AND COSMOLOGY SC2490, Degree course structure A.Y. 2019/20, A.Y. 2019/20	bring this page with you
Degree course track	Common track
Number of ECTS credits allocated	6.0
Type of assessment	Mark
Course unit English denomination	ASTROPHYSICS LABORATORY 1
Website of the academic structure	http://astrophysicsandcosmology.scienze.unipd.it/2019/laurea_magistrale
Department of reference	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Mandatory attendance	Sì
Language of instruction	English
Branch	PADOVA
Single Course unit	The Course unit can be attended under the option Single Course unit attendance
Optional Course unit	The Course unit can be chosen as Optional Course unit

Syllabus

Prerequisites:	Knowledge of astronomy and/or physics at undergraduate level. Important Notice: We call attention that the compulsory course Astrophysics Laboratory 1 is split into two channels. Students must choose one of the two options according to their preference (not depending on any alphabetic criterion). Please refer to the detailed syllabus to guide your choice. The program described herebelow refers to one of the two possible channels.
Target skills and knowledge:	The student will understand the basics of high-energy astrophysics including radiation mechanisms in the astrophysical context, the state-of-the-art and future telescope technologies for high-energy astrophysics. The lab experience allows the student (in a group of two or three students) to perform analyses of high-energy observations carried out by space-born high-energy telescopes. The student will gain actual research experience, which includes performing imaging analysis, spectral analysis, timing analysis, and fitting of data.
Examination methods:	The oral exam will focus on topics addressed during lectures and on a report of a high-energy observation analyzed by the student group during the lab experience.
Assessment criteria:	Evaluation of the student’s performance will be based on her/his oral exam including the report of the high-energy observation analyzed during the lab experience.
Course unit contents:	1) optics of high-energy telescopes: focusing optics, non-focusing optics, detectors 2) current and future space missions, orbits of space missions, earth’s atmosphere, astrophysical and instrumental background 3) high-energy observations, archives and data analyses 4) imaging analysis, spectral analysis, timing analysis and their astrophysical context 5) fitting of data
Planned learning activities and teaching methods:	The lab experience is at the core of this class. As such the ultimate goal for the students is to gain understanding of high-energy astrophysics processes, to gain experience in data analyses, and critical thinking about the lab experience. Hands-on sessions in the computer lab will be performed by groups of two or three estudents. Therefore, theory and hands-on sessions will go hand in hand and they both will be held in the computer lab. As for the assignment, students are asked to report on the high-energy observation analyzed during their lab activity.
Additional notes about suggested reading:	Students will be handed the lecture notes, which will be the main source of information for this class. If students feel the need for more detailed information on specific topics, they can use the book by: Malcolm S. Longair, High Energy Astrophysics (3rd edition), Cambridge University Press
Textbooks (and optional supplementary readings)	Malcolm S. Longair, High Energy Astrophysics (3rd edition). --: Cambridge University Press, --.