Program Overview

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Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a Master's program in Physics, with a course focused on the interstellar medium and formation of stars.

Course Description

The course, NFYK13017U, explores the physics of the interstellar medium and its role in the formation of stars and planets. It covers the progression of the interstellar medium from large scales to planet-forming regions, including the physics of the diffuse interstellar medium and the formation of Solar-type stars.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

• Present insight into the physics behind the temperature and density distributions of the different phases of the interstellar medium.
• Account for key physical phenomena, such as shocks and PDRs, and describe the underlying physical mechanisms dictating the structure and evolution of dense clouds.
• Demonstrate knowledge about the physics behind the collapse of dense cores, including the importance and effects of thermal support, rotation, magnetic fields, and turbulence.
• Describe the overall evolution of young stars, including time-scales and key events, such as the launching of jets and outflows and the formation and evolution of protoplanetary disks.
• Account for the overall hypotheses regarding the processes leading to the formation of planets.

Literature and Academic Qualifications

The literature for the course will be announced later in Absalon. The content corresponding to the bachelor courses in astronomy is required, and academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree are recommended.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course consists of lectures and exercises, with a total workload of 206 hours.

Assessment

The course is assessed through an oral examination, 25 minutes in duration, with no preparation allowed. The marking scale is a 7-point grading scale, and there is no external censorship.

Course Information

The course is taught in English, with a credit value of 7.5 ECTS. It is a full-degree Master's course, with a duration of one block, and is placed in block 4. There is no limitation on course capacity, unless registration occurs during the late-registration period.

Study Board and Contracting Department

The study board for the course is the Study Board of Physics, Chemistry and Nanoscience, and the contracting department is the Niels Bohr Institute.

Course Coordinators and Lecturers

The course coordinator is Jes Kristian Jørgensen, and the lecturer is Jes Jørgensen.