Program Overview

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Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a Master's program in Physics with a focus on Computational Astrophysics: Star and Planet Formation.

Program Details

Course Description

The course provides an introduction to contemporary computational astrophysics, covering technical aspects, methods, and an overview of computational models for microphysical processes. The course exercises introduce and illustrate these concepts, giving a "hands-on" feeling for how and in what context they are used.

Learning Outcome

The student will be able to:

• Model the dynamics of the interstellar medium
• Model gravitational collapse
• Solve the radiation transfer equation
• Use radiative transfer in connection with analysis and modeling of observations
• Model dust dynamics and gas-dust interaction
• Report on current theories and models of star and planet formation

The student will also gain knowledge of the fundamental equations that govern astrophysical gas dynamics, including radiative energy transfer and coupled gas-dust dynamics. Additionally, the student will achieve knowledge of the basic computational techniques used in modern astrophysics, including the principles of adaptive mesh refinement techniques and particle methods.

Literature

The course literature includes "Numerical Methods in Astrophysics" by P. Bodenheimer, G. P. Laughlin, M. Rozyczka, T. Plewa, and H. W. Yorke, complemented with lecture notes.

Recommended Academic Qualifications

The student is expected to have followed courses on galaxies, stars, and planets. It is recommended but not required that the student has followed an M.Sc. course on the interstellar medium and star formation.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course consists of lectures, exercises, and project work.

Workload

The workload is distributed as follows:

• Lectures: 28 hours
• Preparation: 92 hours
• Project work: 28 hours
• Theory exercises: 28 hours
• Total: 206 hours

Exam

The exam consists of two parts:

• Continuous assessment (70% of the final grade)
• Written assignment (4 days) with an oral defense (30% of the final grade)

Marking Scale

The marking scale is a 7-point grading scale.

Re-exam

The re-exam consists of two parts: a 4-day report with an oral defense (30% of the grade) and new solutions to the weekly exercises (70% of the grade).

Course Information

• Language: English
• Course code: NFYK14018U
• Credit: 7.5 ECTS
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 2
• Schedule: A
• Course capacity: No limitation
• Continuing and further education: Available

Contracting Department

The Niels Bohr Institute is the contracting department for this course.

Course Coordinators

The course coordinator is Troels Haugbølle.

Lecturers

The lecturer is Åke Nordlund.