2011 / 12 Lecture Series at the University of Heidelberg

Extrasolar Planets and Brown Dwarfs

Dr. Viki Joergens



Start: Thursday, October 20, 2011, 2:15 pm

Location: Neuenheimer Feld, INF 501 / FP (R.102)

Time: 2:15 to 4:00 pm (weekly from Oct 2011 to Feb 2012)

Prerequisite: Introduction to Astronomy 1

Credit Points (3 CPs): Requirements are 80% attendance at lecture and exam at the end of the lecture series


Short description of lecture content:
Detection history of extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs, detection methods (radial velocities, transits,
direct imaging, microlensing, astrometry, deep IR surveys), new discoveries (Earth mass planets,
Corot and Kepler transiting planets, ultracool freefloating objects), observational properties of
extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs, cool atmospheres (spectral types M, L, T, Y, clouds),
formation, interior structure, evolution, search for extraterrestrial life.

Guest lecturer: Dr. Hubert Klahr, Dr. Christoph Mordasini


Lecture Schedule (preliminary): 
Lecture  1 (VJ, Oct 20)   "Introduction to Extrasolar Planets and Brown Dwarfs"  [PDF] 
Lecture  2 (VJ, Oct 27)   "How to find a Planet or Brown Dwarf"  [PDF] 
Lecture  3 (HK, Nov 03)	  "Star and Brown Dwarf formation"  [PDF] 
Lecture  4 (HK, Nov 10)	  "Planet Formation I"  [PDF] 
Lecture  5 (VJ, Nov 24)	  "Interior Structure and Evolution of Planets and Brown Dwarfs"  [PDF] 
Lecture  6 (VJ, Dec 01)	  "Properties of Extrasolar Planets"  [PDF] 
Lecture  7 (CM, Dec 08)	  "Planet Formation II"  [PDF] 
Lecture  8 (VJ, Dec 15)   "Atmospheres of Extrasolar Planets and Brown Dwarfs I (Spectral types of BDs, Clouds, Chemistry)"  [PDF] 
Lecture  9 (VJ, Dec 22)	  "Atmospheres of Extrasolar Planets and BDs II (Exoplanet Atmospheres,Transit spectroscopy,Biosignatures)"  [PDF] 
Lecture 10 (VJ, Jan 12)	  "Properties of Brown Dwarfs I (Multiplicity)"  [PDF] 
Lecture 11 (VJ, Jan 19)	  "Properties of Brown Dwarfs II (Kinematics, Disks, Outflows, IMF)"  [PDF] 
Lecture 12 (VJ, Jan 26)	  "Search for Extraterrestrial Life"  [PDF] 

Lecture 13 (VJ, Feb 10)   "Science slam"  (Time: 11:15 am; Location: KIP, INF 227, SR 3.401)

Viki Joergens / viki @ mpia.de