Courses

Last updated: Spring 2021

All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise specified.

643 Stars and Stellar Populations
Topics include gravitational equilibrium configurations, virial theorem, polytropes, thermodynamics, convective and radiative transport, stellar atmospheres, nuclear reactions and energy generation, pre-main-sequence contraction, evolution to red giant, white dwarf, and neutron star, and supernova explosions.

644 Radiation Processes in Astrophysics
Topics include continuum emission mechanisms (synchrotron radiation, inverse compton, and free-free emission), dust emission, photo-ionization and recombination, excitation and transfer of atomic and molecular lines, line broadening, and population inversion and astrophysical masers.

645 Astrophysical Dynamics and Thermodynamics
Dynamic, thermodynamic and gravitational principles applied to astrophysics. Potential theory, orbital mechanics, virial theorem, Jeans’ equations, equilibrium and stability of self-gravitating systems, kinetic theory. Applications to galactic structure and evolution, mergers, dark matter, evolution of star clusters and galactic nuclei and solar system dynamics.

650 Extragalactic Astronomy
Structure, formation, and evolution of galaxies. Stellar/gas content, kinematics, spiral structure, chemical evolution, galactic nuclei, missing mass in galaxies and clusters, galaxy collisions, determination of the Hubble constant, large-scale structure, and motions in the universe.

696 Special Topics
Special study in astronomy or astrophysics, either theoretical or experimental under direction of faculty member. May be repeated for credit. Consent of Head of the Department of Astronomy and directing faculty member required. Credit, 1-6.

699 Master’s Thesis
Credit, 1-9.

731 Radio Astronomy
Principles of antennas, receivers, and spectrometers for radio astronomy. Surveys state-of-art systems at centimeter to sub-millimeter wavelengths. Observational techniques and basic system design discussed. There is a laboratory component to course.

732 Computational Methods for Physical Science
Basic numerical methods: linear algebra, interpolation and extrapolation, integration, root finding, extremization and differential equations. Introduction to Monte Carlo techniques used to simulate processes that occur in nature and methods to simulate experiments that measure these processes including random number generators, sampling techniques, and multidimensional simulation. Methods for extracting information from experiments such as experimental measurements and uncertainties, confidence intervals, parameter estimation, likelihood methods, least squares method, hypothesis tests, and goodness of fit tests. Chaotic dynamics and other special topics as time permits.

741 The Interstellar Medium
Describes the gas and dust components of the interstellar medium in ionized regions, atomic clouds, and molecular clouds. Shows how data from optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths can be utilized to determine density, temperature, composition, and dynamics of the various phases of the ISM. Comparison of these results with theoretical models. Includes an overview of the processes that affect the evolution of the ISM including the incorporation of gas and dust into stars, the effect of HII regions and young stellar objects, and the return of matter from evolved stars and supernovae.

748 Cosmology and General Relativity
Observational cosmology and cosmological principles. Background radiation and Olbers’ paradox. Newtonian cosmology. General relativity, gravitational waves, relativistic cosmology, and gravitational collapse. Theories of the universe and origin of celestial structure.

791A, 792A Seminar: Review of Current Literature
Discussion and review of current articles in astronomical literature. May be repeated for credit. Required of graduate students. Credit, 1-2 each semester.

830 Radio Astrophysics
Physical theory fundamental to radio astronomy: propagation of electromagnetic waves in isotropic and anisotropic media with emphasis on plasmas. Faraday rotation, emission and absorption of synchrotron radiation and bremsstrahlung emission, nonthermal radio source models.

850 Advanced Topics in Astronomy
Topics of special interest not covered in regular courses at the present time. Recent examples include high energy astrophysics, formation and evolution of galaxies, advanced dynamics, and dark energy.

860 Seminar on Research Topics in Astronomy
Topics of current interest not covered in regular courses. Instruction via reading assignments and seminars. May be repeated for credit. Consent of instructor required. Credit, 1-3.

899 Doctoral Dissertation
Credit, 18.

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