Certificate Of Professional Development In Astronomy

Gamma Ray Bursts

Qualifications required:

School science or maths (UK GCSE equivalent)

Qualification gained:

A Certificate of Professional Development in Astronomy will be awarded for the successful completion of this module. This module is assigned 12 credit points which can be used to build up credits towards other academic qualifications at Liverpool John Moores University and other Universities.

We provide:

CD-ROM and necessary course software, course video, photographic material, astronomy support for the duration of the course (by post, email, telephone, internet telephone and fax) , news group for student discussion, and a course website.

You need:

Good access to a computer with CD-ROM player. The computer needs to be able to run an internet browser which we can supply though it is not essential for it to be connected the internet. Good access to video player (VHS format).

Commitment:

The course lasts for four months. We expect that during a typical week you will need to spend 30 minutes watching course video material, 1 to 2 hours on computer and/or photographic exercises, 45 minutes reviewing the relevant material on the CD-ROM and in your textbook and doing multiple choice questions and 10 mins in correspondence with tutor. Overall we expect that you will put around 120 hours of time into the course.

Assessment:

You need to email, post or fax us your work for the course. The weighting for the marking will be as follows: Coursework assignments (75%), End of module examination (25%). The usual rate for the submission of assignments will be approximately one per month.

Cost for module:

Gamma Ray Bursts is a single module course, and hence is worth 12 level one credits. Please see the main page here for the current prices.

Textbook:

The course is self-contained and there is no need to purchase additional books.

The following is an outline of the course. Contents are subject to change.

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are short, intense flashes of gamma rays that can last from a few milliseconds to around 100 seconds and arise from the most violent and explosive events in the universe. Discovered in 1967 and remaining a mystery for more than a quarter of a century, these extraordinary events are only just starting to be understood thanks to recent developments in astronomical instrumentation. Fast communication between satellites such as NASA’s SWIFT satellite and rapid response ground based robotic telescopes such as the Liverpool Telescope have made it possible to observe and study these short lived phenomena.

This course is an excellent opportunity to learn about one of the most cutting edge topics in modern astronomy with unprecedented access to scientifically relevant data from one of the best instruments in the world. The course is designed to give a broad overview of the field of Gamma Ray Bursts including the history of the field, the relevant background physics, recent advances and our current understanding of these enigmatic objects. It is structured as follows:

1.What are Gamma Rays?
What is the electromagnetic spectrum and where do gamma rays fall within it? What is the relationship between the wavelength and frequency of light? What equipment and techniques can we used to detect gamma rays?

2.Historical Background
How where GRB’s discovered? What were the first models for Gamma Ray Bursts? Why did they remain a mystery for so long?

3.A Physical look at GRBs
How does physics differ in extreme environments? What role do black holes play in the formation of Gamma Ray Bursts? Can fireball models explain Gamma Ray Bursts?

4.The 1st Breakthrough
How are GRBs distributed around the night sky? Do GRBs originate from outside our galaxy? How do we classify Gamma Ray Bursts? Are all GRBs the same?

5.The 2nd Breakthrough
How does the discovery of a Gamma Ray Burst “afterglow” affect the understanding of GRBs? What the “afterglow” can tell us about the distances of GRBs?

6.Why and How they Shine?
What are Gamma Ray Burst light curves, and what do they tell us? What information can we obtain by observing the afterglows at different wavelengths?

7.Where do they Come From?
Using current data, what is our best guess at the origin of GRBs? Does it have to be a particular kind of star? Is more than one star involved? Just how big are the explosions?

8.What are GRBs good for?
What impact on modern astronomy has the discovery of Gamma Ray Bursts had? What is there left to find out? Will our ideas on GRBs change again?

Enrolment:

Please print out, fill in and return this enrolment form to the address below. Please either include a cheque payable to Liverpool John Moores University (only UK pounds accepted) or you may use your credit/debit card to pay online. If you wish to pay online we will send you the required student number on submission of your application form.  If you are unable to print the enrolment form please contact the address below or send us an email and we will send out a form to you via the mail. 

For more information on the course and any potential problems, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions.

Contact Distance Learning

Distance Learning,
Astrophysics Research Institute,
Liverpool John Moores University,
Twelve Quays House,
Egerton Wharf,
Birkenhead,
CH41 1LD,
United Kingdom.

Tel - +44 (0)151 231 2900
Fax - +44 (0)151 231 2926
Web - http://www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/courses/distance.shtml

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