CASE STUDIES IN PHYSICS

Unit 4

ASTROBIOLOGY

Dr. Ray Sharples

If you have any problems with this course, please come to see me in Room 247 or email me at R.M.Sharples@Durham.ac.uk

Course Summary

The search for extra-solar Earth-like planets, and possible signatures of biological lifeforms, is one of the most exciting prospects for astronomy in the new millenium. This course will investigate the technical challenges to be faced and the basic physics underlying the formation of planetary systems. Topics to be covered include: angular momentum transfer, black body radiation, thermodynamic equilibrium and atmospheric physics.

Lecture 1: Introduction. Our solar system.
           Formation of the solar system.

Lecture 2: Searches for extra-solar planets I.
           Doppler method. Transit method.
 
Lecture 3: Searches for extra-solar planets II.
           Interferometers. Gravitational lensing method.

Lecture 4: Habitable planets.
           Surface temperature. Planetary atmospheres.
 
Lecture 5: Extraterrestrial intelligence.
           Drake equation. SETI.
 
Course texts:  

"The Search for Life on Other Planets" by Bruce Jakosky.

Further Information About the Course

on-line versions of the Powerpoint Slides (not a substitute for attending the lectures!)
Postscript (Microsoft) versions of the handouts distributed in Lecture 1, Lecture 2, Lecture 3, Lecture 4 and Lecture 5
the weekly Problem Sheet (solutions due Monday 15th January
what you should have learned from the course is listed in the Course Summary
the Java simulation of reflex Doppler motions in an extrasolar planet system is based on an original binary star simulation by Terry Herter.

Further Information Sources on the Web

For more information try the following links:

Last modified 15 November 2000

R.M.Sharples@Durham.ac.uk