Astronomy 16. Stellar and Planetary Astronomy
Catalog Number: 8813
David Charbonneau
Half course (spring term). M., W., 2:30–4; M., 6:30–8 p.m. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
This course provides an introduction to the physical principles describing the formation and evolution of stars and their planetary companions. Topics include thermal radiation and stellar spectra; telescopes; energy generation in stars; stellar evolution; orbital dynamics; the Solar system; and exoplanets. This course includes an observational component: students will determine the distance to the Sun, and use the Clay Telescope atop the Science Center to study stellar evolution and detect exoplanets.
Note: This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the General Education requirement for Science of the Physical Universe or the Core area requirement for Science A.
Prerequisite: An introductory course in mechanics, which may be taken concurrently, satisfied by Physics 11a, or Physics 15a, or Physics 16.
Astronomy 17. Galactic and Extragalactic Astronomy
Catalog Number: 22304
Christopher Stubbs
Half course (fall term). M., W., 2:30–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
This course provides an introduction to the physical principles describing galaxies and the composition and evolution of the Universe. Topics include the interstellar medium; star clusters; the structure and dynamics of the Milky Way; other galaxies; clusters of galaxies; active galaxies and quasars; cosmology; and the early universe. This course includes an observational component: In addition to observing galaxies with the Science Center Clay Telescope, students will use the millimeter-wavelength telescope at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics to measure the rotation velocity of the Milky Way galaxy and to determine its mass.
Note: This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the General Education requirement for Science of the Physical Universe or the Core area requirement for Science A.
Prerequisite: An introductory course in mechanics, which may be taken concurrently, satisfied by Physics lla, or Physics 15a, or Physics 16.
*Astronomy 91r. Supervised Reading and Research
Catalog Number: 1545
James M. Moran, Alicia M. Soderberg and members of the Department
Half course (fall term; repeated spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Supervised reading and research in a subject of astrophysics that is not normally included in
the regular course offerings of the department.
Note: Students must arrange for course supervision with an individual member of the Department. The course may be counted only once toward the concentration requirements, and may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: Astronomy 16 or Astronomy 17.
*Astronomy 98. Research Tutorial in Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 3121
Edo Berger and members of the Department
Half course (spring term). M., 4-5:30, Tu., 5:30-7:30 pm.
This tutorial introduces students to research at the forefront of astrophysics, and provides opportunities for students to meet with research scientists and individuals active in science
policy, education, and journalism. Students meet weekly for a lecture and discussion over dinner with a guest speaker, preceded by a reading and a preparatory seminar. Students will be mentored throughout the term on a research project of their choosing. The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is home to one of the largest groups of astronomers in the world, providing extensive opportunities for undergraduate research.
Note: Open to students pursuing the concentration or secondary field in astrophysics, and in special cases to concentrators in other physical sciences.
Prerequisite: Astronomy 16 or Astronomy 17.
*Astronomy 99. Senior Thesis in Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 5413
David Charbonneau and members of the Department
Full course. Hours to be arranged.
For honors candidates in Astrophysics. Individually supervised reading and research
leading to the senior thesis. The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is home to one of the largest groups of astronomers in the world, providing extensive opportunities for undergraduate research.
Prerequisite: Astronomy 98.
[Astronomy 110. Exoplanets]
Catalog Number: 43612
David Charbonneau
Half course (fall term). M., W., 1–2:30. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
A survey of the rapidly-evolving field of the detection and characterization of planets orbiting other stars. Topics includes proto-stellar collapse and star formation; comets, meteorites, and protoplanetary disk structure; models of planet formation; methods of detecting extrasolar planets; composition and physical structure of planets; planetary atmospheres; habitable zones; greenhouse effect; biosignatures.
Note: Expected to be given in 2012–13.
Prerequisite: Astronomy 16.
[Astronomy 120. Stellar Physics]
Catalog Number: 58719
Alicia M. Soderberg
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 11:30–1. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
Stars are the basic building blocks of galaxies and are responsible for the nucleosynthesis of most of the elements. Topics include stellar structure; energy transport in stars; stellar atmospheres; astroseismology; nuclear fusion in stars; stellar evolution; nucleosynthesis of the elements; stellar death and supernovae; the degenerate remnants of stars; black holes. This course will make use of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and quantum mechanics, but will review these subjects as necessary.
Note: Expected to be given in 2012–13.
Prerequisite: Astronomy 16. Physics 15c strongly recommended.
Astronomy 130. Cosmology
Catalog Number: 73826
Douglas Finkbeiner
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 11:30–1. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
The physical model describing the initial conditions, evolution, and ultimate fate of the Universe. Topics include cosmic dynamics; the Robertson-Walker Metric; curvature; estimating cosmological parameters; the accelerating universe; dark matter; gravitational lensing; the cosmic microwave background; nucleosynthesis; inflation and the very early universe; formation of structure.
Note: Offered in alternate years.
Note: Offered in alternate years.
Prerequisite: Astronomy 17 or Physics 15c.
Astronomy 150. Radiative Processes in Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 8993
Ramesh Narayan
Half course (fall term). M., W., 1–2:30. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
This course offers a survey of radiative processes of astrophysical importance from radio waves
to gamma rays. Topics include thermal and non-thermal processes, including bremsstrahlung, synchrotron radiation, and Compton scattering; radiation in plasmas; atomic and molecular spectra.
Note: Open to seniors concentrating in Astrophysics or Physics. Juniors considering this course should contact the instructor.
Prerequisite: Physics 143a.
Astronomy 151. Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Catalog Number: 3025
Lars Hernquist
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
Fluid and gas dynamics with applications drawn from astrophysical phenomena. Topics include: kinetic theory, diffusive effects, incompressible fluids, inviscid and viscous flows, boundary layer theory, accretion disks, fluid instabilities, turbulence, convection, gas dynamics, linear (sound) waves, method of characteristics, Riemann invariants, supersonic flow, non-linear waves, shocks, similarity solutions, blast waves, radiative shocks, ionization fronts, magnetohygrodynamics, hydromagnetic shocks, dynamos, gravitational collapse, principles of plasma physics, Landau damping, computational approaches, stability criteria, particle based (Lagrangian) methods, adaptive mesh refinement, radiation hydrodynamics.
Note: Offered in alternate years.
Astronomy 191. Astrophysics Laboratory
Catalog Number: 3615
John M. Kovac and Jonathan E. Grindlay
Half course (fall term). F., 2-5, and hours to be arranged. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8, 9
Laboratory and observational projects in astrophysics. Students design and undertake two projects from a selection including: observational studies of the cosmic microwave background radiation, molecules in interstellar clouds, the rotation of the galaxy, galactic molecular sources with the submillimeter array (SMA), stars and clusters with the Clay Telescope; and laboratory experiments including super-conducting submillimeter detectors, x-ray CCDs, and hard x-ray imaging detectors and telescopes.
Note: Primarily for concentrators in 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: Astronomy 16 or 17, or Physics 15c or equivalent.
[Astronomy 193. Noise and Data Analysis in Astrophysics]
Catalog Number: 4495
James M. Moran
Half course (spring term). M., W., 2–3:30. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
How to design experiments and get the most information from noisy, incomplete, flawed, and biased data sets. Basic of Probability theory; Bernoulli trials: Bayes theorem; random variables; distributions; functions of random variables; moments and characteristic functions; Fourier transform analysis; Stochastic processes; estimation of power spectra: sampling theorem, filtering; fast Fourier transform; spectrum of quantized data sets. Weighted least mean squares analysis and nonlinear parameter estimation. Bootstrap methods. Noise processes in periodic phenomena. Image processing and restoration techniques. The course will emphasize a Bayesian approach to problem solving and the analysis of real data sets.
Note: Expected to be given in 2012–13.
Prerequisite: Mathematics 21b or equivalent.
[Astronomy 201b. Interstellar Medium and Star Formation]
Catalog Number: 4206
Alyssa A. Goodman
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 2–3:30. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Nature of the Interstellar Medium (ISM): composition, energetics, densities and interactions; observations and theory. Processes leading to the formation of stars and planets, as well as studies of the feedback on the ISM from stellar deaths.
Note: Expected to be given in 2012–13.
Astronomy 202a. Galaxies and Dynamics
Catalog Number: 8237
Daniel James Eisenstein
Half course (fall term). M., W., 9:30–11. EXAM GROUP: 2, 3
An overview of extragalactic astronomy. Galaxy formation, evolution and properties, galactic dynamics, clustering, gas dynamics, star formation and other topics at the frontiers of extragalactic astronomy.
Note: Offered in alternate years.
Astronomy 202b. Cosmology
Catalog Number: 2446
Abraham Loeb
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 9:30–11. EXAM GROUP: 4, 11, 12
The cosmological principle: isotropy and homogeneity, cosmological world models, thermal history of the Big Bang, the microwave background, inflation, growth of density fluctuations, large scale structure and other topics at the frontiers of cosmology.
Note: Offered in alternate years.
Astronomy 218. Radio Astronomy
Catalog Number: 2883
James M. Moran
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 2–3:30. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Historical development; diffraction 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. Observational projects and laboratory exercises carried out with the Submillimeter Array, Haystack Observatory and the CMB Laboratory.
Note: Offered in alternate years.
Prerequisite: Astronomy 150 or Physics 153 recommended.
Astronomy 219. High Energy Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 1858
Edo Berger and Ramesh Narayan
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 2–3:30. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Discussion of relativistic and high-energy astrophysical phenomena and observational techniques. Accretion onto compact stars (white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes); active galactic nuclei, galaxy clusters. Gamma-ray bursts and cosmic rays. X-ray and gamma-ray background.
Note: Offered in alternate years.
[*Astronomy 224. Solar System Dynamics]
Catalog Number: 8374
Matthew Holman
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Introduction to techniques of modern solar system dynamics, applied to our own solar system as well as to extra solar planetary systems. Research component focuses on applications of solar system dynamics to data from Pan-STARRS-1.
Note: Expected to be given in 2012–13.
Prerequisite: Physics 11a, 15a or 16.
[Astronomy 251. Quantum Mechanics for Astrophysics]
Catalog Number: 5381
Lars Hernquist
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
Quantum mechanics with applications to atomic and molecular processes important in astronomical environments. Atomic and molecular structure; spectroscopy (selection rules, oscillator strengths, photoionization); scattering theory (elastic, inelastic, approximate methods); line broadening; collision processes (cross sections, rate coefficients) involving electrons, ions, atoms, and molecules.
Note: Expected to be given in 2012–13.
Prerequisite: Physics 143a or the equivalent, or permission of instructor.
*Astronomy 301hf. Journal Club
Catalog Number: 5224
Edo Berger 6027 and Alicia M. Soderberg 6570
Half course (throughout the year). Tu., at 4.
Each week two speakers (faculty, lecturers, and students) will report on current research in astronomy, providing students with an opportunity to practice the organization and presentation of technical material. A minimum of one presentation will be expected from each student each year focused on their own research or new results in the literature. Faculty will similarly discuss recent results from the literature, as well as their own research as a way to provide an overview of research activities at the Harvard Astronomy Department. The course is intended as an opportunity for substantive discussion, as an opportunity to find out about research activities, and to foster interaction between the students and faculty.
*Astronomy 302. Scientists Teaching Science
Catalog Number: 9869
Philip M. Sadler 2231
Half course (spring term). Tu., 2–3:30.
Learn the secrets of lecturing well, leading discussions, connecting to real-world applications, and creating tests in any scientific discipline as we focus on relevant educational research and case studies, plus engage in practical classroom activities.
Note: Open to graduate students in all areas of science. Assignments help illustrate research findings from life, earth, and physical science education. Undergraduates with an interest in teaching at the pre-college level may be admitted with instructor permission.
Prerequisite: Experience as a teaching fellow or tutor.