Graduate

ASTR 207 Future Directions/Future Missions

Examines possible key science goals for the next decade, such as planet detection, galaxy formation, and dark energy cosmology; the means for addressing these goals, such as new space missions and/or ground-based facilities; and the political, technical, and scientific constraints on such research. Looks at the role of the Decadel Survey. Examines a few existing programs (DEEP, ALMA, SNAP, NGST) as examples.

Credits

5

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Quarter offered

Spring

ASTR 209 Physical Principles of Atomic and Molecular Structure

The elementary quantum mechanics underlying atomic and molecular structure, with applications to astronomical spectroscopy.

Credits

5

ASTR 212 Dynamical Astronomy

Surveys dynamical processes in astrophysical systems on scales ranging from the planetary to the cosmological, stability and evolution of planetary orbits, scattering processes and the few-body problem, processes in stellar clusters, spiral structure and galactic dynamics, galactic collisions, and evolution of large-scale structure.

Credits

5

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Quarter offered

Winter

ASTR 220B Star Formation

Theory and observations of star formation. Observational techniques used to study star formation, particularly millimeter line and continuum observations, and infrared, visible, and UV star-formation tracers. Physics of giant molecular clouds and galaxy-scale star formation. Gravitational instability, collapse, and fragmentation. Pre-main sequence stellar evolution. Protostellar accretion disks and jets. Radiative feedback and HII regions. (Formerly Star and Planet Formation)

Credits

5

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): ASTR 220A.

Quarter offered

Fall

ASTR 220C Advanced Stages of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis

The evolution of massive stars beyond helium burning; properties of white dwarf stars; physics and observations of novae, supernovae, and other high energy stellar phenomena; nuclear systematics and reaction rates; the origin and production of all the chemical elements.

Credits

5

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): ASTR 220A. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Quarter offered

Spring

ASTR 223 Planetary Physics

Survey of interiors, atmospheres, thermal evolution, and magnetospheres of planets, with focus on the astronomical perspective. Course covers exoplanets and solar system planets, both giant and terrestrial, with attention to current and future observations.

Credits

5

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Quarter offered

Winter

ASTR 231 Diffuse Gas In and In Between Galaxies

Examines the observational data and theoretical concepts related to the interstellar medium (gas inside galaxies); intracluster medium (gas in between galaxies in clusters); and intergalactic medium (gas in between field galaxies). Emphases on the inferred physical conditions of this gas and its implications for cosmology and processes of galaxy formation.

Credits

5

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

ASTR 232 High Energy Astrophysics

Elements of cosmology including Newtonian cosmology, curved spaces, observational tests, microwave background, and the early universe. Cosmic rays, their origin, propagation, and radiation. Supernovae and the physics of pulsars.

Credits

5

ASTR 235 Numerical Techniques

Gives students a theoretical and practical grounding in the use of numerical methods and simulations for solving astrophysical problems. Topics include N-body, SPH and grid-based hydro methods as well as stellar evolution and radiation transport techniques.

Credits

5

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Quarter offered

Winter

ASTR 237 Accretion Processes

Theories of spherical accretion, structure and stability of steady-state accretion disks, and the evolution of time-dependent accretion disks. Applications of these theories to the formation of the solar system as well as the structure and evolution of dwarf novae and X-ray sources are emphasized.

Credits

5

ASTR 240B High Redshift Galaxies

Galaxy formation and evolution from observations of intermediate-to-high redshift galaxies (z 0.5-5). Complements and builds on 240A. Cluster galaxies and field galaxies. Foundation from classic papers on distant galaxies. Recent discoveries from IR and sub-mm measurements. Impact of AGNs and QSOs. Overview of modeling approaches. Identify theoretical and observational issues.

Credits

5

Requirements

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Quarter offered

Spring

ASTR 253 Stellar Dynamics

Kinematics and relaxation of stellar systems. Potential and orbit theories. Dynamics of globular clusters, spiral and elliptical galaxies. Dynamical friction, mergers, and galactic cannibalism. Galaxy clustering in the early universe.

Credits

5

Instructor

Douglas Lin

ASTR 255 Stellar Populations

A study of stellar populations in our own and in external galaxies with particular reference to theories of galaxy formation and evolution. Variable star properties, element abundances, nucleosynthetic histories, and dynamical properties of various stellar populations.

Credits

5

ASTR 256 Infrared Astronomy

Techniques and results of infrared observations. Physical nature of infrared sources.

Credits

5

ASTR 275 Radio Astronomy

Theory and practice of radio telescopes, radiometers, and data handling systems. Principles of aperture synthesis. Theory of continuum and line radio emission mechanisms, and application to actual astronomical observations. Galactic radio sources, quasars, and pulsars. Offered occasionally.

Credits

5

Instructor

Stephen Thorsett

ASTR 289S Origin and Evolution of Planetary Systems

Theory of star formation. Evolution of the sun. Physics of the solar nebula. Origin and evolution of the nebula. Formation of the giant planets and the terrestrial planets. Observational approaches to the discovery of other planetary systems.

Credits

5