Ay 1
The Evolving Universe
9 units (3-3-3)
|
third term
Introduction to modern astronomy that will illustrate the accomplishments, techniques, and scientific methodology of contemporary astronomy. The course will be organized around a set of basic questions, showing how our answers have changed in response to fresh observational discoveries. Topics to be discussed will include telescopes, stars, planets, the search for life elsewhere in the universe, supernovae, pulsars, black holes, galaxies and their active nuclei, and Big Bang cosmology. A field trip to Palomar Observatory will be organized. Not offered on a pass/fail basis.
Instructor:
Hallinan
FS/Ay 3
Freshman Seminar: Automating Discovering the Universe
6 units (2-0-4)
|
second term
Powerful new instruments enable astronomers to collect huge volumes of data on billions of objects. As a result, astronomy is changing dramatically: by the end of this decade, most astronomers will probably be analysing data collected in large surveys, and only a few will still be visiting observatories to collect their own data. The tool chest of future astronomers will involve facility with "big data", developing clever queries, algorithms (some based on machine learning) and statistics, and combining multiple databases. This course will introduce students to some of these tools. After "recovering" known objects, students will be unleashed to make their own astronomical discoveries in new data sets. Limited enrollment. Not offered 2019-20.
Ge/Ay 11 c
Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences: Planetary Sciences
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 ab, Ph 1 ab.
A broad introduction to the present state and early history of the solar system, including terrestrial planets, giant planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and rings. Earth-based observations, observations by planetary spacecraft, study of meteorites, and observations of extrasolar planets are used to constrain models of the dynamical and chemical processes of planetary systems. Although Ge 11 abcd is designed as a sequence, any one term may be taken as a standalone course. Physicists and astronomers are particularly welcome.
Instructor:
Brown
Ay 20
Basic Astronomy and the Galaxy
9 units (3-1-5)
|
first term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc, Ph 1 abc or instructor's permission.
The electromagnetic spectrum and basic radiative transfer; ground and space observing techniques; "pictorial Fourier description" of astrophysical optics; Kepler's laws; exoplanets; stellar masses, distances, and motions; the birth, structure, evolution, and death of stars; the structure and dynamics of the Galaxy. Lessons will emphasize the use of order-of-magnitude calculations and scaling arguments in order to elucidate the physics of astrophysical phenomena. Short labs will introduce astronomical measurement techniques.
Instructor:
Ravi
Ay 21
Galaxies and Cosmology
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc, Ph 1 abc or instructor's permission.
Cosmological models and parameters, extragalactic distance scale, cosmological tests; constituents of the universe, dark matter, and dark energy; thermal history of the universe, cosmic nucleosynthesis, recombination, and cosmic microwave background; formation and evolution of structure in the universe; galaxy clusters, large-scale structure and its evolution; galaxies, their properties and fundamental correlations; formation and evolution of galaxies, deep surveys; star formation history of the universe; quasars and other active galactic nuclei, and their evolution; structure and evolution of the intergalactic medium; diffuse extragalactic backgrounds; the first stars, galaxies, and the reionization era.
Instructor:
Steidel
Ay 30
Introduction to Modern Research
3 units (2-0-1)
|
first term
Weekly seminar open to declared Ay majors. At the discretion of the instructor, nonmajors who have taken astronomy courses may be admitted. Course is intended for sophomores and juniors. This seminar is held in faculty homes in the evening and is designed to encourage student communication skills as they are introduced to faculty members and their research. Each week a student will review a popular-level article in astronomy for the class. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor:
Hillenbrand
Ay 31
Writing in Astronomy
3 units (1-0-2)
|
third term
This course is intended to provide practical experience in the types of writing expected of professional astronomers. Example styles include research proposals, topical reviews, professional journal manuscripts, and articles for popular magazines such as Astronomy or Sky and Telescope. Each student will adopt one of these formats in consultation with the course instructor and write an original piece. An outline and several drafts reviewed by both a faculty mentor familiar with the topic and the course instructor are required. This course is most suitable for juniors and seniors. Fulfills the Institute scientific writing requirement.
Instructors:
Howard, Steidel
Ay 43
Reading in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Units in accordance with work accomplished, not to exceed 3
Course is intended for students with a definite independent reading plan or who attend regular (biweekly) research and literature discussion groups. Instructor's permission required. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor:
Staff
Ay 78 abc
Senior Thesis
9 units
Prerequisites: To register for this course, the student must obtain approval of the astronomy option representative and the prospective thesis adviser.
Previous SURF or independent study work can be useful experience. Course is open to senior astronomy majors only. Research must be supervised by a faculty member. Students wishing assistance in finding an adviser and/or a topic for a senior thesis are invited to consult with the astronomy option representative. The student will work with an advisor to formulate a research project, conduct original research, present new results, and evaluate them in the context of previously published work in the field. During the first term, the student should be fully engaged in and make significant progress on the research project. During second term, the research continues and an outline of the thesis itself should be reviewed with the advisor and the option representative. During third term, the research work is completed and the focus should turn to thesis writing. The written thesis of 20-100 pages must be completed and approved by the adviser and the option representative before the end of the third term. The first two terms are graded pass/fail and the grades are then changed at the end of the course to the appropriate letter grade for all three terms.
Instructor:
Staff
Ay 101
Physics of Stars
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first term
Prerequisites: Ay 20 is recommended.
Physics of stellar interiors and atmospheres. Properties of stars, stellar spectra, radiative transfer, line formation. Stellar structure, stellar evolution. Nucleosynthesis in stars. Stellar oscillations.
Instructor:
Fuller
Ay 102
Physics of the Interstellar Medium
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Prerequisites: Ay 20 is recommended.
An introduction to observations of the inter-stellar medium and relevant physical processes. The structure and hydrodynamic evolution of ionized hydrogen regions associated with massive stars and supernovae, thermal balance in neutral and ionized phases, star formation and global models for the interstellar medium.
Instructor:
Hillenbrand
Ay/Ph 104
Relativistic Astrophysics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Prerequisites: Ph 1, Ph 2 ab.
This course is designed primarily for junior and senior undergraduates in astrophysics and physics. It covers the physics of black holes and neutron stars, including accretion, particle acceleration and gravitational waves, as well as their observable consequences: (neutron stars) pulsars, magnetars, X-ray binaries, gamma-ray bursts; (black holes) X-ray transients, tidal disruption and quasars/active galaxies and sources of gravitational waves.
Instructor:
Instructor: Kasliwal
Ay 105
Optical Astronomy Instrumentation Lab
9 units (1-5-3)
|
third term
Prerequisites: Ay 20.
An opportunity for astronomy and physics undergraduates (juniors and seniors) to gain firsthand experience with the basic instrumentation tools of modern optical and infrared astronomy. The 10 weekly lab experiments include radiometry measurements, geometrical optics, polarization, optical aberrations, spectroscopy, CCD characterization, vacuum and cryogenic technology, infrared detector technology, adaptive optics (wavefront sensors, deformable mirrors, closed loop control) and a coronography tuturial.
Instructor:
Mawet
Ay 111 a
Introduction to Current Astrophysics Research
3 units
|
second term
This course is intended primarily for first-year Ay graduate students, although participation is open and encouraged. Students are required to attend seminar-style lectures given by astrophysics faculty members, describing their research, to attend the weekly astronomy colloquia, and to follow these with additional readings on the subject. At the end of each term, students are required to summarize in oral or written form (at the discretion of the instructor), one of the covered subjects that is of most interest to them.
Instructor:
Kirby
Ge/Ay 117
Bayesian Statistics and Data Analysis
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Prerequisites: CS 1 or equivalent.
In modern fields of planetary science and astronomy, vast quantities of data are often available to researchers. The challenge is converting this information into meaningful knowledge about the universe. The primary focus of this course is the development of a broad and general tool set that can be applied to the student's own research. We will use case studies from the astrophysical and planetary science literature as our guide as we learn about common pitfalls, explore strategies for data analysis, understand how to select the best model for the task at hand, and learn the importance of properly quantifying and reporting the level of confidence in one's conclusions.
Instructor:
Knutson
Ay 119
Astroinformatics
6 units (3-0-3)
|
third term
This class is an introduction to the data science skills from the applied computer science, statistics, and information technology, that are needed for a modern research in any data-intensive field, but with a special focus on the astronomical applications. Open to graduate and upper-division undergraduate students in all options. The topics covered include design of data systems, regression techniques, supervised and unsupervised machine learning, databases, Bayesian statistics, high performance computing, software carpentry, deep learning, and visualization. The class will feature real-world examples from cutting-edge projects in which the instructors are involved.
Instructors:
Djorgovski, Graham, Mahabal
Ay 121
Radiative Processes
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first term
Prerequisites: Ph106bc, Ph 125 or equivalent (undergraduates).
The interaction of radiation with matter: radiative transfer, emission, and absorption. Compton processes, coherent emission processes, synchrotron radiation, collisional excitation, spectroscopy of atoms and molecules.
Instructor:
Phinney
Ay 122 abc
Astronomical Measurements and Instrumentation
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first, second terms
Prerequisites: Ph 106bc or equivalent.
Measurement and signal analysis techniques througout the electromagnetic spectrum. Courses may include lab work and field trips to Caltech observatories. Ay 122a concentrates on infrared, optical, and ultraviolet techniques: telescopes, optics, detectors, photometry, spectroscopy, active/adaptive optics, coronography. Imaging devices and image processing. Ay 122b concentrates on radio through submillimeter techniques: antennae, receivers, mixers, and amplifiers. Interferometers and aperture synthesis arrays. Signal analysis techniques and probability and statistics, as relevant to astronomical measurement. Ay 122c (not offered 2019-20) concentrates on X-ray through gamma-ray techniques.
Instructors:
Howard, Martin, Hallinan, Ravi
Ay 123
Structure and Evolution of Stars
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first term
Prerequisites: Ay 101; Ph 125 or equivalent (undergraduates).
Thermodynamics, equation of state, convection, opacity, radiative transfer, stellar atmospheres, nuclear reactions, and stellar models. Evolution of low- and high-mass stars, supernovae, and binary stars.
Instructors:
Hillenbrand, Kirby
Ay 124
Structure and Dynamics of Galaxies
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Prerequisites: Ay 21; Ph 106 or equivalent (undergraduates).
Stellar dynamics and properties of galaxies; kinematics and dynamics of our galaxy; spiral structure; stellar composition, masses, and rotation of external galaxies; star clusters; galactic evolution; binaries, groups, and clusters of galaxies.
Instructor:
Hopkins
Ay 125
High-Energy Astrophysics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Prerequisites: Ph 106 and Ph 125 or equivalent (undergraduates).
High-energy astrophysics, the final stages of stellar evolution; supernovae, binary stars, accretion disks, pulsars; extragalactic radio sources; active galactic nuclei; black holes.
Instructors:
Kasliwal, Kulkarni
Ay 126
Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Prerequisites: Ay 102 (undergraduates).
Physical processes in the interstellar medium. Ionization, thermal and dynamic balance of interstellar medium, molecular clouds, hydrodynamics, magnetic fields, H II regions, supernova remnants, star formation, global structure of interstellar medium.
Instructor:
Kulkarni
Ay 127
Cosmology and Galaxy Formation
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Prerequisites: Ay 21; Ph 106 or equivalent (undergraduates).
Cosmology; extragalactic distance determinations; relativistic cosmological models; galaxy formation and clustering; thermal history of the universe, microwave background; nucleosynthesis; cosmological tests.
Instructors:
Hopkins, Martin
Ge/Ay 132
Atomic and Molecular Processes in Astronomy and Planetary Sciences
9 units (3-0-6)
|
first term
Prerequisites: instructor's permission.
Fundamental aspects of atomic and molecular spectra that enable one to infer physical conditions in astronomical, planetary, and terrestrial environments. Topics will include the structure and spectra of atoms, molecules, and solids; transition probabilities; photoionization and recombination; collisional processes; gas-phase chemical reactions; and isotopic fractionation. Each topic will be illustrated with applications in astronomy and planetary sciences, ranging from planetary atmospheres and dense interstellar clouds to the early universe. Given in alternate years; not offered 2019-20.
Instructor:
Blake
Ge/Ay 133
The Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Review current theoretical ideas and observations pertaining to the formation and evolution of planetary systems. Topics to be covered include low-mass star formation, the protoplanetary disk, accretion and condensation in the solar nebula, the formation of gas giants, meteorites, the outer solar system, giant impacts, extrasolar planetary systems.
Instructor:
Batygin
Ge/Ay 137
Planetary Physics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Prerequisites: Ph 106 abc, ACM 95/100 ab.
A quantitative review of dynamical processes that characterize long-term evolution of planetary systems. An understanding of orbit-orbit resonances, spin-orbit resonances, secular exchange of angular momentum and the onset of chaos will be developed within the framework of Hamiltonian perturbation theory. Additionally, dissipative effects associated with tidal and planet-disk interactions will be considered.
Instructor:
Batygin
Ay 141 abc
Research Conference in Astronomy
3 units (1-0-2)
|
first, second, third terms
Oral reports on current research in astronomy, providing students an opportunity for practice in the organization and presentation of technical material. A minimum of two presentations will be expected from each student each year. In addition, students are encouraged to participate in a public-level representation of the same material for posting to an outreach website. This course fulfills the option communication requirement and is required of all astronomy graduate students who have passed their preliminary exams. It is also recommended for astronomy seniors. Graded pass/fail.
Instructors:
Mawet, Kasliwal, Fuller
Ay 142
Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Units in accordance with work accomplished
The student should consult a member of the department and have a definite program of research outlined. Approval by the student's adviser must be obtained before registering. 36 units of Ay 142 or Ay 143 required for candidacy for graduate students. Graded pass/fail.
Ay 143
Reading and Independent Study
Units in accordance with work accomplished
The student should consult a member of the department and have a definite program of reading and independent study outlined. Approval by the student's adviser must be obtained before registering. 36 units of Ay 142 or Ay 143 required for candidacy for graduate students. Graded pass/fail.
Ge/Ay 159
Astrobiology
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
We approach the age-old questions "Why are we here?" and "Are we alone?" by covering topics in cosmology, the origins of life, planetary habitability, the detection of biosignatures, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and humanity's future in space. Specific topics include: the emergence of life at hydrothermal vents; the habitable zone and the Gaia hypothesis; the search for ancient habitable environments on Mars; icy satellites like Europa, Enceladus, and Titan as astrobiological prospects; and the hunt for atmospheric biosignatures on exoplanets. Given in alternate years; not offered 2019-20.
Instructor:
Yung
Ay 190
Computational Astrophysics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Prerequisites: Ph 20-22 (undergraduates).
Introduction to essential numerical analysis and computational methods in astrophysics and astrophysical data analysis. Basic numerical methods and techniques; N-body simulations; fluid dynamics (SPH/grid-based); MHD; radiation transport; reaction networks; data analysis methods; numerical relativity. Not offered 2019-20.
Ay/Ge 198
Special Topics in the Planetary Sciences
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Topic for 2019-20 is Extrasolar Planets. Thousands of planets have been identified in orbit around other stars. Astronomers are now embarking on understanding the statistics of extrasolar planet populations and characterizing individual systems in detail, namely star-planet, planet-planet and planet-disk dynamical interactions, physical parameters of planets and their composition, weather phenomena, etc. Direct and indirect detection techniques are now completing the big picture of extra-solar planetary systems in all of their natural diversity. The seminar-style course will review the state of the art in exoplanet science, take up case studies, detail current and future instrument needs, and anticipate findings.
Instructors:
Howard, Mawet
Ay 211
Contemporary Extragalactic Astronomy
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Prerequisites: Ay 123, Ay 124, and Ay 127.
Topics in extragalactic astronomy and cosmology, including observational probes of dark matter and dark energy; cosmological backgrounds and primordial element abundances; galaxy formation and evolution, including assembly histories, feedback and environmental effects; physics of the intergalactic medium; the role of active galactic nuclei; galactic structure and stellar populations; future facilities and their likely impact in the field. Not offered 2019-20.
Ay 215
Seminar in Theoretical Astrophysics
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Course for graduate students and seniors in astronomy. Topic for 2019-20 will be compact binaries containing white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes. Formation, mass transfer, accretion, X-ray and pulsar binaries, magnetic and wind interactions, mergers, gravitational waves. Students will be required to lead some discussions; homework will consist exclusively of reading and working through selected papers in preparation for discussions.
Instructors:
Fuller, Phinney
Ay 218
Extrasolar Planets
9 units (3-0-6)
|
third term
Not offered 2019-20.
Ay 219
Elements in the Universe and Galactic Chemical Evolution
9 units (3-0-6)
|
second term
Prerequisites: Ay 121, 123, 124, 126.
Survey of the formation of the elements in the universe as a function of cosmic time. Review of the determination of abundances in stars, meteorites, H II regions, and in interstellar and intergalactic gas. Overview of models of galactic chemical evolution. Participants will measure elemental abundances from the Keck spectrum of a star and construct their own numerical chemical evolution models. Not offered 2019-20.
Published Date:
July 28, 2022