Code
import sys
sys.path.append('../code')
from astro_utils import hello_astrophysics
hello_astrophysics()
import sys
print(sys.executable)Hello astrophysics!
/opt/hostedtoolcache/Python/3.13.1/x64/bin/python3Preliminaries
Course Overview
Learning Goals
- Have a good understanding of what to expect from this course
- Learn about the grading policy, assignments and final project scope
Modern Astrophysics
This course is directed at first/second year graduate students interested in astrophysics research. We cover a few of the important physical processes necessary to understand astronomical objects and observations. The course will use python notebooks throughout helping with experiential learning and give the student resources to explore the code/formulas and algorithms behind the plots and animations.
Course Notes and Schedule
Texts and resources
A useful free textbook for a number of theoretical concepts by Nick Kaiser: Elements of Astrophysics: Link to PDF
Binney and Tremaine (2008) is a key reference for Galactic Dynamics.
Fundamentals of Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics by Kato and Fukue (2020) is recent and has a large scope with interesting discussion of fluids and radiation physics.
If you have access through Stanford libraries I’ll also add some .pdf files to the files section in the course Canvas site.
Syllabus: Calendar, Reading, and Problem Sets
In short: 4 lectures on gravity, 4 on fluids, 4 on radiation,
4 on special topics and 4 with student presentations = 20 meeting times
Rough Calendar [will change] Reading Problem Set
Tu 1 Jan 7 Intro/Overview/Gravity K:285-300 Workflow+
Th 2 Jan 9 Gravity 3 ways | Stellar dynamics K: 26.7.1 p295 + 1-2 page Proposal
Tu 3 Jan 14 Cosmology + Zeldovich approx. K:303+5,337+3,385+3 Bertschinger Dust Solution
Th 4 Jan 16 Hydrodynamics I) K:246-247,251-253
Tu 5 Jan 21 Hydrodynamics II)
Th 6 Jan 23 Sound Waves, Shocks & Sedov Taylor K:258,22.2,23.2 K:20.10.3 + Bertsch. g=5/3
Tu 7 Jan 28 Radiation K:61-69
Th 8 Jan 30 Radiation Transport K:81-89 K:6.12.1-4 +
Tu 9 Feb 4 Radiative Processes I)
Th 10 Feb 6 Radiative Processes II)
Tu 11 Feb 11 Radiative Processes III) K:14.9.2-3 +
Th 12 Feb 13 AT I) Spectra of Galaxies Notes
Tu 13 Feb 18 AT II) HII regions Notes
Th 14 Feb 20 AT III) Press Schechter theory Notes reproduce Mo & White 98
Tu 15 Feb 25 AT IV) Summary Statistics Notes
Th 16 Feb 27 AT V) Plasmas/Acceleration Notes
Tu 17 Mar 4 Presentations I
Th 18 Mar 6 Presentations II
Tu 19 Mar 11 Presentations III
Th 20 Mar 13 Presentations IV Grading
- 40% Final project and presentation
- 60% Problem set (worst dropped)
Testing our python code setup:
References
Binney, James, and Scott Tremaine. 2008. Second Edition. Princeton: Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/doi:10.1515/9781400828722.
Kato, Shoji, and Jun Fukue. 2020. Fundamentals of Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics; Hydrodynamics, Magnetohydrodynamics, and Radiation Hydrodynamics. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4174-2.