Lectures: Stellar Dynamics
AS3004: Stellar Dynamics
Course Text: "Galactic Dynamics" by Binney and Tremaine
This course aims to explore the basics of
gravitational dynamics and its application to systems ranging from
planetary and stellar systems to clusters of galaxies. Starting from
two-body motion and orbits under a central-force law, the course
investigates the dynamics of binary systems and then goes on to explore
many body systems from stellar clusters to galaxies. Methods of determining
gravitational potentials and orbits in these potentials are explored.
The course then develops the statistical treatment of stellar motions
including two-body relaxation and the use of the collisionless Boltzmann equation
with applications to observations of stellar systems.
Lecture notes are available as single page postscript and as 6 slides per page postscript and pdf