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Night Sky

Day 1

The commencement of the "Pedagogic Workshop on Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology" saw its first day marked by an inaugural ceremony.  Principal, Prof. John Varghese, Vice Principal, Dr. Karen Gabriel, and IUCAA coordinator for the workshop and Head of Teaching Learning Centre, IUCAA, Prof. Dhruba J. Saikia, graced the event with their insightful remarks, underscoring the workshop's importance for both the college and its participants.

 

The inaugural session was followed by an enlightening presentation by Prof. Dipankar Bhattacharya from Ashoka University. Prof. Bhattacharya delved into the topic of "The Structure and Evolution of Stars," covering a wide range of subtopics, including the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram, Virial theorem, Hydrostatic equilibrium, Main Sequence, Degeneracy pressure in white dwarfs, Limiting Mass of White Dwarf, Neutron Stars, Evolutionary Time Scales, Schönberg-Chandrasekhar limit, Nuclear burning stages, and Stellar Evolution in Close Binary Systems. To conclude, he provided valuable resources for undergraduate-level study in the field.

 

Link to the presentation by Prof. Deepankar Bhattacharya : 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b9DZbyjKYRZZPxxtT27LKoUeRlKDxMAX/view?usp=sharing

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In the evening session, Dr. Prakash Arumugasamy conducted a hands-on workshop focusing on positional astronomy using the Stellarium software. During this engaging session, he distributed exercise sheets to the participants, offering them a practical opportunity to apply the knowledge they had gained. Mr. Arumugasamy underscored the significance of the Stellarium software in the context of undergraduate teaching, highlighting its role in enhancing the understanding of positional astronomy. To further support the participants' learning, he generously provided a substantial amount of supplementary study material, equipping them with valuable resources for their academic pursuits. This interactive session not only introduced the participants to a powerful tool for astronomical observation but also demonstrated its practical applications in educational settings.

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  • YouTube link to the course produced by the Astronomy Centre for Educators, IUCAA. The ARPIT 2018 course gave a broad overview to different areas of astronomy and astrophysics. The ARPIT 2019 course was on Stars and stellar systems. https://www.youtube.com/@NRCIUCAA/playlists

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  • The participants are requested to download the desktop/laptop version of Stellarium from https://stellarium.org/ and install it just like they would normally install any click to install software on their operating system.

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Finally the session concluded with a participant  presentation by Dr. Raj Kumar from Inter University Centre for Teacher education, Varanasi, UP (Link here)

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Night Sky

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On the second day, Dr. Mainpal, an Assistant Professor from Sri Venkateswar College, University of Delhi, commenced the workshop with an engaging lecture. He explored galaxy classification and the mechanisms governing Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). The diverse approaches to classifying galaxies and the methods used to categorize them were discussed. The lecture then delved into AGN mechanisms, unraveling the inner workings of these enigmatic objects at the centers of galaxies, shedding light on their formation, activity, and evolution. He also emphasized the light-bending models of accretion disk reflection as an alternative perspective, offering insights into the interaction between matter and energy near AGNs.

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Link to the lecture: https://drive.google.com/file/d/195AWGLt85capo8tm_jt2e_no1nkGL0KF/view?usp=sharing

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Further, the workshop continued with an energetically delivered talk by Prof. Chetana Jain, from Hansraj College at the University of Delhi. Her session carried particular significance as it revolved around the fascinating domain of X-Ray Astronomy.  She introduced the thermal and non-thermal mechanisms that underlie the production of X-rays in the cosmos, shedding light on the physical processes responsible for these high-energy emissions. As the discussion unfolded, Prof. Jain delved into the realm of X-ray objects, offering valuable insights into their unique properties. To facilitate a deeper understanding, she engaged the participants in hands-on numerical problem-solving exercises related to Neutron Stars, elucidating the intricate concepts tied to these celestial bodies. Keeping in mind the evening session by her, she elaborated on worksheets that delved into essential aspects, including the arrival time of X-ray photons, the duration of eclipses, the folding of light curves, and the polarization properties of X-ray emissions from the cosmos. 

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Link to the lecture: 

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During the hands-on session in the afternoon, Prof. Chetana Jain and Dr. Aru Beri from IISER, Mohali guided the participants in the creation of Python code to generate plots of light curves, perform binning, and conduct Fourier transformations.  Furthermore, the participants were introduced to the intricacies of fitting Gaussian and Lorentzian distributions. This process served as a means to identify and characterize various system features, marking a baby step in their understanding of data analysis in the context of X-ray Astronomy.

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Python Program: 

https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1esVMCdsyUFb3iRRCLDOsuMRawJcJ5XGU?usp=sharing

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Finally the session concluded with a participant  presentation by 

a) Ms. Kunwar Yudwinder Kaur : Panjab University

b) Dr. Jais Kumar: K.N. Government P.G. College, Gyanpur

c) Mr. Dheraj Kunyal: Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi

d) Prof. Aheibam Keshwarjit Singh: D. M. College of Science, Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur

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Day 2

Night Sky

Day 3

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Overview of multi-messenger astronomy (D. J. Saikia, IUCAA Pune)

The commencement of the third day of the workshop was marked by an engaging presentation delivered by Prof. Dhurba J. Saikia. The focus of his lecture encompassed the broad realm of multi-messenger astronomy, delving into questions such as the diverse channels through which astronomical information is conveyed. Among the intriguing topics explored was the inquiry into the highest energy photon ever detected, which turned out to be an astounding "530 photons at energies above 100 teraelectronvolts and up to 1.4 PeV from 12 ultrahigh-energy γ-ray sources with a statistical significance greater than seven standard deviations."  The spectrum widened to cover subjects like the JWST deep field, the pivotal role played by Prof. Govind Swarup (1929 – 2020) as the Father of Radio Astronomy in India, and the angular resolution of an interferometer array. Further discussions unfolded on the evolution of massive stars, properties of neutron stars including pulsars, and the phenomenon of line emission at radio wavelengths. The realm of X-ray astronomy was explored with a nod to eROSITA, the extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array launched in 2019. The lecture also touched upon clusters of galaxies, the captivating subject of gamma-ray bursts, and the intriguing question of whether an X-ray telescope could be fashioned akin to an optical telescope. A historical note was struck with the initial puzzle surrounding the discharge of electroscopes.

Link to the lecture: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c7sWx0bC99ONj3Y8yaVMfPmbgGIUeNsy/view?usp=sharing

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The discussion later  delved into the composition of Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), and a literary reference was made to "Cosmic Gall" by John Updike (1932 – 2009). The expansive field of gravitational wave astronomy was explored, concluding with a nod to Carl Sagan’s timeless reflection on the "Pale Blue Dot."

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cosmic gall.jpeg

Climbing the Cosmic distance ladder (Prof. Suprit Singh, IIT D)

The day's second lecture was delivered by Prof. Suprit Singh, Assistant Professor at IIT Delhi, focusing on the Cosmic Distance Ladder in cosmology. Prof. Singh skillfully navigated the various methods of measuring cosmological distances, beginning from smaller scales like the Earth's radius and distance from the sun to the moon, employing techniques such as parallax, and extending to cosmological distances using Supernovae Ia.

 

In his engaging presentation, Prof. Singh not only shed light on these distance measurement methods but also ignited participants' interest in the field through innovative approaches. Some of the key references he highlighted include A. P. French's "How far away is the horizon," insights into the first three rungs of the cosmological distance ladder, a modern take on Eratosthenes' experiment, and experiments utilizing video cameras and digital cameras to measure the radius of the Earth and the orbital period of the Moon, respectively. Additionally, the lecture touched upon primary and secondary indicators of distance estimates, providing a comprehensive exploration of the subject.

Link to the lecture: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12ylxHfiBiTKdXIi69B6B3fXH2Rz6LrnP/view?usp=sharing

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Hands-on session: Detecting a pulsar in Ooty Radio Telescope voltage data (Dr. Prakash Arumugasamy) 

During the evening session, Dr. Prakash Arumugasamy conducted an immersive and captivating hands-on workshop. He meticulously guided participants through a comprehensive point-by-point analysis of the entire data processing procedure, emphasizing the intricacies involved in every step. The session began with voltage estimation, a fundamental aspect in deciphering the intricacies of the data, and extended to the nuanced process of determining the period of pulsating pulsars.

 

Dr. Arumugasamy's presentation not only offered theoretical insights but also provided participants with tangible hands-on materials. This hands-on approach allowed participants to actively engage with the data analysis process, enhancing their understanding of the complexities inherent in studying pulsars. By breaking down the analytical journey from voltage estimation to pulsar period determination, Dr. Arumugasamy facilitated a deep and practical comprehension of the data analysis intricacies, fostering a more profound appreciation for the subject matter among the participants.

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Resources material for Hands-on session on 'Detecting a pulsar in Ooty Radio Telescope voltage data'

Resource Material: https://bit.ly/ace_ortallresources
Python code template: https://bit.ly/ort_colabtemplate
Write-up/manual: https://bit.ly/ace_ortpulsar

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Finally the session concluded with a participant  presentation by 

a) Pramod Kumar : Assistant Professor, S. S. Jain Subodh P. G. College, Jaipur

b) Anantharaman S V: Research Scholar, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana

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Night Sky

Day 4

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Dark matter (Prof. Deepak Jain)

On the fourth day of the workshop, participants were immersed in the enigmatic realm of the universe by Prof. Deepak Jain from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi. Commencing with a concise overview of the constituents of the universe, he strategically delved into the captivating subject of Dark Matter.

 

Prof. Jain's talk was structured to address key questions, starting with indirect methods of detecting dark matter. He employed an insightful analogy, drawing parallels between dark matter in astronomy and the flow of black money in the economy. The journey through the presence of dark matter in galaxy clusters, calculated using the virial theorem, to exploring the rotation curve of galaxies, gravitational lensing, nucleosynthesis, the Bullet cluster, and evidence of Dark Matter in Large Scale Structures (LSS), Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), and Supernovae (SNe) unfolded seamlessly.

 

The presentation included a Dark Matter fact sheet, emphasizing its non-interactive, collisionless, cold, non-baryonic nature. Prof. Jain also touched upon candidates of dark matter beyond the standard model, and the intricate process of detecting dark matter in the laboratory through direct, indirect, and collider interaction-based studies. Notable examples such as DRIFT, XMASS, WIMPs, and LHC were explored in this context.

 

In the concluding segment, Dr. Deepak highlighted the Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) theory, underscoring its consistency at the galactic scale while acknowledging its limitations on the cosmological scale. This comprehensive exploration provided participants with a profound understanding of the dark sector of the universe and its diverse manifestations.

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Link to lecture slides:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gWgxuI5vWjlOJ_HJHY6JEVhztmwZDDLp/view?usp=sharing

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Galaxies and AGN – II (Prof. D. J. Saikia)

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During the second session of the fourth day of the workshop, Prof. D. J. Saikia seamlessly continued his exploration of Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). He initiated the lecture by delving into the Hubble classification of galaxies, leading the discussion towards the intriguing category of irregular galaxies, dwarf galaxies, and low surface brightness galaxies (LSB). The discourse extended to the captivating realm of interacting and merging galaxies, referencing the RC3 catalogue and the study conducted on galaxies listed therein, including insights from the Hubble Ultra Deep Field.

 

A notable highlight of Prof. Saikia's presentation was a discussion on a unique classroom activity involving Hanny’s Voorwerp and IC 2497. This cosmic duo, discovered in 2007 by an amateur volunteer from the Galaxy Zoo project, Hanny van Arkel, added a fascinating dimension to the exploration, emphasizing the significant contributions of citizen scientists.

 

The lecture progressed to cover Starburst galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), wherein Prof. Saikia delved into the characteristics of AGN, their luminosities at X-ray wavelengths, and the intriguing Seyfert galaxies, with a historical nod to E. A. Fath's optical spectrum study of NGC1068 at Lick Observatory in 1908. The exploration extended to Radio galaxies, specifically classifying them into Fanaroff-Riley class I and II sources, and probing the episodic nature of AGN activity.

 

Quasars became a focal point, with discussions on locating their optical counterparts, studying radio sources, spectra, and the host galaxies. Prof. Saikia also touched upon BL Lacertae type or BL Lac objects, Blazars, and the fascinating subject of jets, particularly at radio wavelengths. The presentation concluded with insights into Unified Models of AGN, offering a comprehensive and logically sequenced exploration of galaxies and AGN during the workshop session.

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Link to lecture slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uf2hn1KHZIE2m1MgaGNa3nw6qS0kfugu/view?usp=sharing

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Astronomical experiments (Philip Cherian)

Material: https://t.ly/Vu4xN

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Finally the session concluded with a participant  presentation by 

a) Dr. Pritpal Kaur Sandhu     Assistant Professor             Lovely Professional University, Panjab

b) Dr. Hira Joshi                     Associate Professor            Gargi college, University of Delhi

c) Dr. Bhavneet Kaur              Associate Professor            Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi

d) Mr. Ajay Atwal                   Research Scholar                IIT Mandi, Mandi, HP

e) Dr. Vijay Singh                    Assistant Professor             Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi

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Night Sky

Day 5

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Cosmology: an introduction (Dr. Sanil Unnikrishnan) 

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On the culminating day of the workshop, which was exclusively dedicated to the exploration of cosmology, Dr. Sanil Unnikrishnan took the stage for the inaugural session. Commencing his lecture, Dr. Unnikrishnan delved into the foundational assumptions crucial for comprehending our current big-bang-based universe. These assumptions were encapsulated in three pivotal postulates:

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a) Weyl’s Postulate
b) Cosmological Principal
c) General Theory of Relativity

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Dr. Unnikrishnan systematically elucidated these postulates, establishing a groundwork for understanding the intricacies of cosmology. Through a meticulous analysis, he constructed the framework for the FLRW metric based on the aforementioned postulates. The participants were captivated as he unraveled the mathematical underpinnings of the fundamental model governing the expanding nature of the universe.

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In the culmination of his discourse, Dr. Unnikrishnan derived the Friedmann equation, shedding light on the emergence of the cosmological constant. The session not only provided a comprehensive insight into the theoretical foundations of cosmology but also left the audience with a profound appreciation for the mathematical elegance underlying the principles that govern our expanding universe.

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Cosmology: present status and recent results (Prof. T. R. Seshadri)

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Hands-on session: cosmology related data analysis (Akshay Rana, Geetanjali Sethi, Shruti Thakur, Darshan Beniwal)

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a) Program 1: https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1kQarkL47tpLxDC8XVSibDi7L_X8dbr1c?usp=sharing

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b) Program 2: https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1HmIBWNugRktOjuZjUVolM0s6r_0YAbzG?usp=sharing

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c) Program 3: https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1vLo22xMc1rpfBPFPxytsK_PZ8nRnvs2X?usp=sharing

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