Graduate Courses for Astronomy (ASTR)
Schedule of Classes:
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer
(Only current and next semester available)
ASTR 410 Radio Astronomy (3 credits)
Prerequisites: ASTR121; PHYS270 and PHYS271 (Formerly PHYS263) or
PHYS273; or permission of department.
Introduction to current observational techniques in radio astronomy.
The radio sky, radiophysics, coordinates and catalogs, antenna theory,
Fourier transforms, interferometry and arrays, aperture synthesis,
and radio detectors.
ASTR 415 Computational Astrophysics (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Recommended: computer
programming knowledge. For ASTR majors only. Credit will be granted for
only one of the following: ASTR498C or ASTR415. Formerly ASTR498C.
Introduction to the most important computational techniques being used
in research in astrophysics. Topics include modern high performance
computer architectures, scientific visualization and data analysis, and
detailed descriptions of numerical algorithms for the solution to a wide
range of mathematical systems important in astrophysics.
ASTR 421 Galaxies (3 credits)
Prerequisites: ASTR121, PHYS270, and PHYS271 (Formerly PHYS263) or
PHYS273. For ASTR majors only. Credit will be granted for only one of
the following: ASTR421 or ASTR498G. Formerly ASTR498G.
Introduction to structure, kinematics, and dynamics of normal and
peculiar galaxies. Quantitative descriptions of normal spiral galaxies
(like our Milky Way) and elliptical galaxies will be followed by more
exotic considerations such as interacting and merging galaxies, and
active galactic nuclei.
ASTR 422 Cosmology (3 credits)
Prerequisites: ASTR121, PHYS270, and PHYS271 (Formerly 263) or PHYS273.
For ASTR majors only. Credit will be granted for only one of the
following: ASTR422 or ASTR498V. Formerly ASTR498V.
Introduction to modern cosmology. Topics include large scale structure
of universe, the intergalactic medium, the nature of dark matter
cosmological models and galaxy formation.
ASTR 430 The Solar System (3 credits)
Prerequisites: ASTR121 or ASTR200; PHYS270 and PHYS271 (Formerly 263) or
PHYS273; or permission of department.
Formation and evolution of the Solar System. Planetary surfaces,
interiors, atmospheres, and magnetospheres. Asteroids, comets,
planetary satellites, and ring systems. Emphasis on using basic physics
to understand observed properties of the Solar System. Intended for
students majoring in the physical sciences.
ASTR 450 Orbital Dynamics (3 credits)
Prerequisites: ASTR121; PHYS270 and PHYS271 {Formerly PHYS263} or
PHYS273; or permission of department.
Vectorial mechanics, motion in a central force field, gravitational
and non-gravitational forces, the two-body and three-body problems,
orbital elements and orbital perturbation theory, resonances in the
solar system, chaos. Intended for students majoring in any of the
physical sciences.
ASTR 480 High Energy Astrophysics (3 credits)
Prerequisite: ASTR121; and either PHYS270 & PHYS271 (Formerly PHYS263)
or PHYS273. Recommended: ASTR320.
The structure, formation, and astrophysics of compact objects, such as
white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes, are examined. Phenomena
such as supernovae and high-energy particles are also covered.
ASTR 498 Special Problems in Astronomy (1-6 credits)
Prerequisite: major in physics or astronomy or permission of department.
Research or special study. Credit according to work done.
ASTR 601 Radiative Processes (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department.
Emission, absorption, and scattering of radiation by matter, with
astrophysical applications. Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics:
LTE, Boltzmann, and Saha equations; radiative transfer; atomic and
molecular radiation; plasma radiation and transfer: bremsstrahlung,
synchrotron emission, Compton scattering.
ASTR 606 Stellar Structure and Evolution (3 credits)
Prerequisite: ASTR 601 or permission of department.
Models of stellar atmospheres, methods of determinins properties of
stars, physical principles governing stellar interior processes,
observational data for determining stellar evolution, nuclear
processes, stellar modeling.
ASTR 610 Astronomical Instrumentation and Techniques (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department.
Review of Maxwell's equations; designs of telescopes, spectrographs,
modern detectors; basic concepts for radio detectors and telescopes;
interferometry and data processing.
ASTR 615 Computational Astrophysics (3 credits)
Permission from department only. Formerly ASTR688C.
Introduction to computational techniques used in astrophysical
research. Topics include modern high performance computer architectures,
scientific visualization and data analysis, and detailed descriptions of
numerical algorithms for the solution to a wide range of
mathematical systems important in astrophysics.
ASTR 620 Galaxies (3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department.
Galaxy classifications; Milky way: basic data, distribution of stars,
gas, dust and relativistic particles, large-scale structure and
rotation; Spiral galaxies: stellar dynamics and stability, density
waves, star bursts, galactic center; Elliptical galaxies: stellar
dynamics, cannabalism; galaxy formation.
ASTR 622 Cosmology (3 credits)
Credit will be granted for only one of the following: ASTR622 or
ASTR688R. Formerly ASTR688R.
Introduction to modern cosmology. Topics include the large scale
structure of the universe, cosmological models, the Big Bang, the cosmic
microwave background, the nature of dark matter, and galaxy formation.
ASTR 630 Planetary Science (3 credits)
Credit will be granted for only one of the following: ASTR630 or
ASTR688P. Formerly ASTR688P.
The science of our planetary system with an emphasis on the aspects of
it, that help us understand the origin of the system and thus the
relevance to other planetary systems. Topics will include planetary
atmospheres, surfaces, and interiors and the small bodies of the solar
system (asteroids, comets, Kuiper-belt objects). We will consider the
dynamics of these bodies and the physics and chemistry of these bodies.
ASTR 670 Interstellar Medium and Gas Dynamics (3 credits)
Prerequisite: ASTR 601 or permission of department.
Content of phases of the interstellar medium: physical processes in
the ISM: ionization equilibrium, heating and cooling, interstellar
dust; gas dynamics: fluid motions, instabilities, shock waves;
magnetohydrodynamics.
ASTR 680 High Energy Astrophysics (3 credits)
Permission by department.. Formerly ASTR688M.
The structure, formation, and astrophysics of compact objects, such as
white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes, are examined.
ASTR 688 Special Topics in Modern Astronomy (1-3 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
Special topics such as extragalactic radio sources, plasma
astrophysics, the H.R. diagram, chemistry of the interstellar medium,
radiophysics of the sun.
ASTR 690 Reasearch Project I (3 credits)
ASTR 695 Introduction to Research (1 credits)
Provides an introduction to research programs in the Department of
Astronomy and a forum to explore possible research projects. Aimed at
incoming graduate students.
ASTR 699 Special Problems in Advanced Astronomy (1-6 credits)
ASTR 788 Selected Topics in Modern Astronomy (1-3 credits)
ASTR 799 Master's Thesis Research (1-6 credits)
ASTR 898 Pre-Candidacy Research (1-8 credits)
ASTR 899 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-8 credits)
