Astronomy 145. Topics in Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 0212
Abraham Loeb
Half course (fall term). M., W., 9:30–11. EXAM GROUP:
3
Discussion of a wide range of astrophysical systems, their physical
processes, and observed characteristics. Topics include the Big Bang,
the microwave background, the formation of structure in the universe,
galaxy formation and evolution, star formation, energy generation in
stars, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
Prerequisite: Physics 143a (may be taken concurrently).
Astronomy 150 (formerly Astronomy 205). Radiative
Processes in Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 8993
Patrick Thaddeus
Half course (spring term). M., W., 1–2:30. EXAM GROUP:
6
Survey of radiative processes of astrophysical importance from radio
waves to gamma rays. Thermal and non-thermal processes, including
bremsstrahlung, synchrotron radiation, and Compton scattering.
Radiation in plasmas. Atomic and molecular structure and spectra.
Introduction to fluid dynamics and shocks.
Prerequisite: Physics 143a (may be taken concurrently).
Astronomy 191. Astrophysics Laboratory
Catalog Number: 3615 Enrollment: Limited to 16
Patrick Thaddeus and Jonathan E. Grindlay
Half course (spring term). F., at 2. EXAM GROUP: 7
Laboratory and observational projects in astrophysics. Carried out
using research facilities at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics, students choose two projects from a larger group that
may include measurement of the temperature of the cosmic microwave
background radiation; laboratory spectroscopy of jet-cooled, gas phase
molecules; observations of dense, star-forming interstellar clouds,
either with the Haystack Observatory or the Very Large Array;
measurement of the rotation of the Galaxy with the CFA millimeter-wave
telescope; development of superconducting submillimeter detectors;
spectroscopic observations of binary stars at Oak Ridge Observatory;
photometry and spectroscopy of star clusters with the Knowles
telescope at the Science Center; principles of soft x-ray detectors
and imaging, construction, and evaluation of hard x-ray imaging
detectors and telescope systems.
Note: Intended primarily for concentrators in Astronomy and
Astrophysics or combined concentrators with Physics. Students with
Physics as their primary concentration, but with a serious interest in
astrophysics, may take this to satisfy their laboratory requirement
(in lieu of Physics 191) upon petition to the Head Tutor in
Physics.
Prerequisite: Physics 15c or equivalent.
[Astronomy 192. Astronomical
Measurements]
Catalog Number: 4741
----------
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
The measurement of radiation from astronomical sources at all
wavelengths and frequencies. The physics of detectors for cosmic rays,
x-rays, optical, infrared, radio, and gravitational
radiation. Signal-to-noise and noise sources in astronomical detectors
including the concept of detective quantum efficiency. Telescopes and
basic instrumentation and techniques for absolute flux measurements,
imaging spectroscopy, polarimetry, measurement of magnetic fields and
interferometry. Astronomical statistics including parameter
estimation, hypothesis testing, nonparametric techniques, and
statistical biases in real data sets.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.
Prerequisite: Physics 15a,b,c and Applied Mathematics 105 (or
equivalents).
Astronomy 193. Noise and Data Analysis to
Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 4495
James M. Moran
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 2–3:30. EXAM GROUP:
16, 17
How to design experiments and get the most information from noisy,
incomplete, flawed, and biased data sets. Basics of probability
theory; Bernouli trials; Bayes theorem; random variables;
distributions; functions of random variables; moments and
characteristic functions; Fourier transform analysis; Stochastic
processes; estimation of power spectra. Digital data processing:
sampling theorem, filtering; fast Fourier tranform; spectrum of
quantized data sets. Weighted least mean squares analysis and
nonlinear parameter estimation. Noise processes in periodic
phenomena. Image processing and restoration techinques.
Prerequisite: Mathematics 21b or equivalent.
Astronomy 206. Stellar Physics
Catalog Number: 2128
Dimitar D. Sasselov
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., at 10. EXAM GROUP:
12
Stellar physics is studied from two basic precepts: of stars as the
elementary (baryonic) building blocks in the Universe and of the
evolution of matter (nucleosynthesis). The theory of stellar interiors
and atmospheres is developed from general grounds and applied as fit
to the variety of stellar objects and their environments. The
observational methods (spectroscopy, dynamics, and seismology) are
also discussed briefly. The goal is to provide basic tools for further
research and an overall picture of the evolution of matter in the
Universe.
[Astronomy 207. Cosmology and Extragalactic
Astronomy]
Catalog Number: 2446
Lars Hernquist and Martin J. White
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
The cosmological principle: isotropy and homogeneity, cosmological
world models, thermal history of the Big Bang, the microwave
background, growth of density fluctuations, formation and evolution of
galaxies, active galactic nuclei, large scale structure, structure of
galaxies and clusters of galaxies, gravitational lensing, candidates
for dark matter, measurements of cosmological parameters.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.
Astronomy 208. The Physics of the Interstellar
Medium
Catalog Number: 4842
Alyssa A. Goodman
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 11–12:30. EXAM GROUP:
13, 14
The Interstellar Medium [ISM] of our own and other galaxies, as well
as the Intergalactic Medium will be discussed, with the greatest
emphasis on the Milky Way’s ISM. Various physically distinct
regions will be investigated, including cold neutral gas, hot ionized
gas, photon-dominated regions, high-velocity clouds, and galactic
nuclei. Star-forming clouds and supernova remnants will be addressed
in detail, as will the interaction of stellar winds with the ISM. The
goal of the course will be an understanding of how to measure,
understand, and predict the conditions (i.e., temperature, density,
chemical composition, ionization state, magnetic field, velocity
distribution) of the gas and dust in interstellar material, and to
understand the role of the interstellar material in galaxies and the
universe.
[Astronomy 218. Radio Astronomy]
Catalog Number: 2883
----------
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Historical development; theory of antennas and interferometers; signal
detection and measurement techniques. Thermal, synchrotron and
spectral-line emission in the context of radio observations of the
sun, planets, pulsars, masers, hydrogen clouds, molecular clouds,
ionized regions, active galaxies, quasars, and the cosmic
background.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02. Astronomy 150 or
Physics 153 recommended.
Astronomy 219. High Energy
Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 1858
Jonathan E. Grindlay and Ramesh Narayan
Half course (spring term). M., W.,
2:30–4:30. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8, 9
Discussion of relativistic and high-energy astrophysical
phenomena. Accretion disks and magnetic accretion. Compact stars:
white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes. Binary evolution. Cosmic ray
and gamma-ray astronomy, observational techniques and sources,
gamma-ray bursts and jets. X-ray astronomy, detectors, telescopes, and
analysis techniques. X-ray sources, accreting x-ray binaries: bursts,
disk coronae, supernova remnants, galaxy clusters. Active galactic
nuclei and super-massive black holes. X-ray and gamma-ray
background.
[Astronomy 225. Formation of Stars and
Planets]
Catalog Number: 0983
Philip C. Myers and Lee W. Hartmann
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
Components and structural properties of the interstellar medium,
molecular clouds and their cores, young stellar objects in isolation
and in clusters, dynamical processes in star formation and
circumstellar disk evolution, properties of the primitive solar nebula
and solar system development, extrasolar planetary systems.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.