Computational Astrophysics
Course content
The course gives an introduction to numerical methods for contemporary computational astrophysics. It covers theory and practice for numerical methods including fluid and particle dynamics, gravitational collapse, and radiative energy transfer. It gives an overview of computational models for microphysical processes, such as cooling, heating, dust dynamics, and astrochemistry. The course exercises introduce and illustrate the methods applying them to concrete examples from astrophysics, and give a “hands-on” feeling for how and in what context they are used. During the course exercises, the students will build a highly modular yet simple core program based on Jupyter notebooks written in python, which includes most of the methods covered in the lectures. The course also touches on technical aspects, such as high performance computing and efficient code development.
MSc Programme in Physics
MSc Programme in Physics with a minor subject
Knowledge:
The student will come to know the fundamental equations that
govern astrophysical dynamics, including fluids, magnetic
fields, radiative energy transfer
and coupled gas-particle interaction, and how to solve
them with modern numerical methods. In addition, the student will
achieve knowledge of the basic computational techniques used
in modern astrophysics, including the principles of adaptive
mesh refinement techniques and the difference between mesh and
particle methods.
Skills:
- Modelling the dynamics of the interstellar medium, including fluids, magnetic fields, and heating and cooling.
- Modelling gravitational collapse
- Solving the radiation transfer equation
- Using radiative transfer in connection with analysis and modelling of observations
- Modelling particle dynamics and gas-particle interaction
Competences:
The course gives basic competences in numerical modelling, and will
establish a foundation for an MSc project based on numerical
modelling.
Lectures and exercises
See Absalon for final course material. The following is an example of expected course literature.
P. Bodenheimer, G. P. Laughlin, M. Rozyczka, T. Plewa, H. W. Yorke: “Numerical Methods in Astrophysics”. Complemented with lecture notes.
The student is expected to have a basic understanding of
astrophysics such as that covered by the BSc courses “Stars and
Planets” and “Extragalactic Astrophysics”. It is required to have
some programming experience in Python, such as that acquired in
“Introduction to Computing for Physicists”. It is recommended but
not required that the student has followed an MSc course on
theoretical astrophysics or has some knowledge about fluid
dynamics.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is
recommended.
This course is identical to the discontinued course NFYK14018U Computational Astrophysics: Star and Planet Formation
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Oral examination, 20 minutes (no preparation time)
- Aid
- No aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
-
Same as ordinary exam
Criteria for exam assessment
See Learning Outcome
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 35
- Preparation
- 142,5
- Practical exercises
- 28
- Exam
- 0,5
- English
- 206,0
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NFYK21004U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedulegroup
-
A
- Capacity
- No limitation – unless you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
- Studyboard
- Study Board of Physics, Chemistry and Nanoscience
Contracting department
- The Niels Bohr Institute
- GLOBE Institute
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Anders Johansen (15-457268697677324e736c65727769724477797268326f7932686f)
- Michiel Thomas A Lambrechts (18-716d676c6d697032706571667669676c78774477797268326f7932686f)
- Troels Haugbølle (8-6a6377696471676e4270646b306d7730666d)
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Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende