Topics in classical radiation: multipole radiation, synchrotron and Cerenkov radiation, Compton scattering, bremsstrahlung, stimulated and coherent emission, diffraction and scattering. Topics in plasma physics: plasma waves, Debye length, adiabatic invariants, wave propagation in plasmas, Landau damping, two-stream instability. (Also offered as Physics 213. Students may not receive credit for both courses.) Offered in alternate academic years. G. Blumenthal
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, perturbation theory, action angle variables, classical field, elasticity, kinetic theory, statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, density matrix, quantum field theory, equation of state. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. Offered in alternate academic years. D. Lin
Fluid mechanics, equation of motion, inviscid and viscous flow, boundary layers, turbulence, compressibility, sound and non-linear waves, heat and momentum transport, instabilities, magnetohydrodynamics, Alfven waves, antipolar diffusion, plasma physics, stability. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. Offered in alternate academic years. G. Blumenthal
Lectures by UCSC faculty on current areas of astronomical and astrophysical research being carried out locally. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. G. Smith
Radiative transfer, model atmospheres, formation of continua and lines. Topics in stellar spectroscopy. Offered in alternate academic years. F. Shu
Survey of stellar structure and evolution. Physical properties of stellar material. Convective and radiative energy transport. Stellar models and evolutionary tracks through all phases. Comparison with observations. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. P. Bodenheimer
Theory of star formation. Interpretation of observations in star forming regions. Theory and observations of protoplanetary disks. Origin and evolution of the solar nebula. Formation and evolution of the terrestrial planets and the giant planets. Prerequisite: course 220A. Offered in alternate academic years. P. Bodenheimer
The evolution of massive stars beyond helium burning; properties of white dwarf stars; physics and observations of novae, supernovae, and other high energy stellar phenomena; nuclear systematics and reaction rates; the origin and production of all the chemical elements. Prerequisite: course 220A. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. Offered in alternate academic years. S. Woosley
Gross dynamical and chemical properties of solar system, interior structure, plate tectonics, atmosphere of terrestrial planets, structure and evolution of giant planets, generation of magnetic fields, planet-satellite tidal interaction, planetary rings, comets, meteorites, formation and long-term stability of solar system. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. Offered in alternate academic years. The Staff
Introduction to the particle physics and cosmology of the very early universe: relativistic cosmology, initial conditions, inflation and grand unified theories, baryosynthesis, nucleosynthesis, gravitational collapse, hypotheses regarding the dark matter and consequences for formation of galaxies and large scale structure. (Also offered as Physics 224. Students may not receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment restricted to graduate students. Offered in alternate academic years. (Formerly The Very Early Universe.) The Staff
Physics of dense matter: equations of state. Structure and cooling of white dwarfs and neutron stars. Observations and phenomenology of pulsars. Elementary relativity; properties of black holes. Compact objects in binary systems: X-ray sources, binary pulsars. Pulsars in globular clusters. Offered in alternate academic years. S. Thorsett
Develops the formalism of Einstein’s general relativity, including solar system tests, gravitational waves, cosmology, and black holes. (Also offered as Physics 226. Students may not receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment restricted to graduate students. The Staff
Fundamental physical theory of gaseous nebulae and the interstellar medium. Ionization, thermal balance, theory and observation of emission spectra. Interstellar absorption lines, extinction by interstellar dust. Ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio spectra of gaseous nebulae. Offered in alternate academic years. W. Mathews
A study of compressible gas and plasma dynamics. Transport coefficients. Linear waves and gravitational, thermal, shear, and Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities. One-dimensional unsteady flow. Shock and ionization fronts. Numerical gas dynamics. Similarity solutions. Winds and accretion flows. Offered in alternate academic years. W. Mathews
Survey of modern physical cosmology, including Newtonian cosmology, curved space-times, observational tests of cosmology, the early universe, inflation, nucleosynthesis, dark matter, and the formation of structure in the universe. Prerequisite: course 202. Offered in alternate academic years. G. Blumenthal
Theories of spherical accretion, structure and stability of steady-state accretion disks, and the evolution of time-dependent accretion disks. Applications of these theories to the formation of the solar system as well as the structure and evolution of dwarf novae and X-ray sources are emphasized. Offered in alternate academic years. The Staff
Nature and evolution of galaxies and the universe, origin of galaxies, and cosmological models. Structure and dynamics of galaxies. Nature of QSOs and active galaxies. The early universe and the cosmic blackbody radiation. Offered in alternate academic years. S. Faber
Kinematics and relaxation of stellar systems. Potential and orbit theories. Dynamics of globular clusters, spiral and elliptical galaxies. Dynamical friction, mergers, and galactic cannibalism. Galaxy clustering in the early universe. D. Lin
Astronomical telescopes and detectors. Astronomical observing techniques. The reduction of observations. Machine shop practice in instrument construction. Offered in alternate academic years. M. Bolte
An introduction to astronomical instrumentation for infrared and visible wavelengths. Topics include instrument requirements imposed by dust, atmosphere, and telescope; optical, mechanical, and structural design principles and components; electronic and software instrument control. Imaging cameras and spectrographs are described. Offered in alternate academic years. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. J. Nelson, T. Mast
Theory and practice of radio telescopes, radiometers, and data handling systems. Principles of aperture synthesis. Theory of continuum and line radio emission mechanisms, and application to actual astronomical observations. Galactic radio sources, quasars, and pulsars. Offered in alternate academic years. S. Thorsett
Occasional courses in particular areas of current interest. The Staff
Seminar attended by faculty, graduate students, and upper-division undergraduate students. The Staff
Independent study or research for graduate students who have not yet begun work on their theses. Prerequisite: petition on file with sponsoring agency. The Staff
The Staff
In this noncredit course, the duly appointed graduate student will perform the normal duties of the teaching assistant (T.A.). The T.A. is to assist and be supervised by the academic staff member in charge of a regular course of instruction. Prerequisite: appointment by the dean. The Staff