ASTROPHYSICS

Nebulae

Regions of
intergalactic cloud of
dust and gas are called
Nebulae. These
regions are stellar
nurseries
Stellar
Evolution
Stellar Evolution
 Stellar process ( HL ) -
Nucleosynthesis

Nucleosynthesis is the process that creates new atomic nuclei from pre-existing
nucleons, primarily protons and neutrons. The first nuclei were formed about
three minutes after the Big Bang, through the process called
Big Bang nucleosynthesis
Binding Energy Curve
 Stellar Evolution- Mass under 8(approx) solar mass

Depending on the mass of the star, nuclear reactions in the core stop when
core is made mainly out helium or carbon/oxygen/neon /magnesium.
Outer layer will be expanded coz of hydrogen or helium fusion there and
inner core contracts coz of gravity.
Outer layers to be ejected to form Planetary Nebula
Core still continue to contract under its own gravity
If the mass of the core is less than 1.4 solar masses, gravitational pressure
become equal to electron degeneracy pressure and further collapse will be
stopped making star stable
This bright star is called White dwarf eventually turns to black dwarf
 Sirius B- the best known white dwarf

• Accompanies bright star Sirius

• It has a mass of 1.02 solar mass
• A radius of 5400 km
• Surface temperature of 10,000K
• If white dwarf is a part of binary system, it may attract matter
from companion star, which may then be drawn into the white
dwarf.
• Then it heats up and emits light.
• This temporary increase in luminosity is called nova
What happens if the mass of the
core is greater than
Chandrasekhar Limit ?
How elements heavier than iron
formed ?
 Stellar Evolution- Mass over 8 solar mass
( 8 to 40 - neutron star and > 40 – blackholes )

• The end of nuclear reactions has left a massive star with an iron core.
• The Chandrashekar limit stipulates that it is impossible for a white dwarf to have a mass more
than 1.4 solar mass.
• For the core of mass > 1.4 M, electrons combine with protons to form neutrons
(e + p n + v ).
• The stars core now entirely made of neutrons implode rapidly, getting too closer and the entire
core will rebound to a larger equilibrium size because of neutron degeneracy pressure.
• It creates a shock wave tears apart the outer layers of star ( Supernova ).
• The core left behind is called neutron star and is more massive than Chandrashekar limit.
• The first calculation about neutron star formation was done by JR Oppenheimer and GM
Volkoff
• The Oppenheimer- Volkoff limit places an upper value on a neutron degeneracy pressure is
able to resist further collapse. This value is estimated between 1.5 and 3 solar masses
 Black Holes

• If the core has a mass greater the 3 solar mass even neutron degeneracy pressure
cannot stop gravitational collapse
• The star will reach a radius at which the escape velocity from the surface of the
sun equals the speed of light, and hence nothing can escape from the star.
• This radius is called the gravitational radius of the star , Rg, or The Schwarzschild
radius or event horizon radius
Rg = 2GM/ c^2
Evidence:
Luminosity

The power radiated by a star is known in astrophysics as the

luminosity.
For a star of surface area A and absolute surface temperature T the
power radiated is
L = σAT4
= σ𝟒𝝅R2T4
Where σ is Stefan-Boltzmann constant
(5.67 X 10-8 Wm-2K-4)
BLACK BODY RADIATION
Apparent Brightness or Intensity of light

The received power per unit area is called the apparent

brightness and is given by
𝑳 σAT4 -2 )
b= = ( unit = Wm
𝟒𝝅d2 𝟒𝝅d2

Apparent brightness is easily measured with a charged

coupled device. (CCD).