ASTROPHYSICS LABORATORY

The course aims to provide a sufficiently in-depth overview of current observation techniques.
Particular attention will be paid to the quantitative description of the physical mechanisms that underlie the observed phenomena.
Due to the intrinsic interdisciplinarity of astrophysics, when necessary, concepts will be introduced, anticipating them in a heuristic manner, which will be fully addressed in other subjects subsequently.
The approach used in class will be observational-experimental-numerical-theoretical.

In addition, in reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, this course will help to acquire the following skills:

Knowledge and understanding
During the course the student will acquire a critical understanding of the most advanced developments of the observational techniques used in Astrophysics in both application and theoretical aspects.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
During the course the student will refine his ability to identify the essential elements of the phenomena investigated in what constitutes the largest laboratory at our disposal: the Universe.

Making judgements
During the course the student will be encouraged to increase their ability to argue personal interpretations of what they have studied.

Communication skills
During the course the student will be encouraged to refine their ability to communicate the knowledge acquired with language skills, a skill that will be particularly important when they find themselves having to present their own research or review activity to an audience of specialists or lay people.

Learning skills During the course the student will refine his ability to acquire adequate cognitive tools for the continuous updating of knowledge and the ability to access specialized scientific literature.

Gray D.F., The observation and analysis of stellar spectra – Cambridge Astrophysics Series

Kitchin C.R., Astrophysical Techniques - Publisher Institute of Physics Publishing

Mihalas D., - Stellar Atmospheres. - San Francisco: W. H. Freeman & Company

Landi Degl'Innocenti, Landolfi - Polarization in Spectral Lines - Kluwer Academic Publishers

n addition to lectures, the course includes photometric, spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric observations with the instrumentation of the Catania Astrophysical Observatory (Serra La Nave) and single-dish radio observations at the Noto Radio Astronomy Station. Each student, in a Linux environment, will independently carry out numerical exercises and data reduction.
The course includes exercises for the creation of numerical models of stellar atmospheres and the resolution of the radiative transport equation using the local thermodynamic equilibrium codes ATLAS and SYNTHE. 
Individually, each student will write the necessary codes for determining the stellar parameters based on the comparison between observed spectra and theoretical spectra.
Compatibly with availability, in-depth seminars will be held during the course by researchers involved in the development of methodologies aimed at modeling and interpreting observational or experimental data.

Learning verification methods
The exam involves the drafting of a report on an observational or experimental activity agreed and carried out during the course. The report must be delivered to the teacher at least two days before the exam. The learning test is entrusted to a final oral exam on all the topics of the program.
Students will be able to start the exam with the presentation of the topic covered in the report also using multimedia devices, such as a ppt presentation.
Criteria for the attribution of the final grade: The report on the experience conducted during the course will contribute equally to the formulation of the final grade, the results, the mastery shown in the arguments both in qualitative and quantitative terms, the knowledge of the topics addressed during the course with particular reference to the ability to correlate the various parts of the program.