Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).
Overview
- Swedish nameAstrofysikalisk dynamik
- CodeFAS010
- Credits7.5 Credits
- OwnerMPPHS
- Education cycleSecond-cycle
- Main field of studyElectrical Engineering, Engineering Physics
- DepartmentSPACE, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT
- GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail
Course round 1
- Teaching language English
- Application code 85113
- Block schedule
- Open for exchange studentsYes
Credit distribution
Module | Sp1 | Sp2 | Sp3 | Sp4 | Summer | Not Sp | Examination dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0101 Examination 7.5 c Grading: TH | 7.5 c |
|
In programmes
- MPPHS - PHYSICS, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (compulsory elective)
- MPPHS - PHYSICS, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
Examiner
Alessandro Romeo- Associate Professor, Astronomy and Plasma Physics, Space, Earth and Environment
Eligibility
General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Specific entry requirements
English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Course specific prerequisites
The course is open to 4th/5th-year students (or students at an equivalent level) and graduate students with background in physics and mathematics. No prior knowledge of astrophysics is required.Aim
Astrophysical Dynamics is an important field in both cosmology and astrophysics. It includes a wide variety of topics, strongly connected with fundamental physics: the formation of stars and galaxies in the Universe, the dynamics of super-massive black holes and its impact on galaxy evolution, dark matter, galactic turbulence and fractality, and many more. This course will give you a solid background in this field. You will also have the opportunity to start, directly after the course, an exciting Master's thesis work on a topic with strong impact on modern research.Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)
The goal of this course is to make the students familiar with the dynamics of fluids in astrophysics and cosmology, and to make them understand the similarities and differences between gas dynamics, stellar dynamics and plasma physics. The students will learn actively through interaction with the teacher and with each other. The students will play an active role in the course not only during lectures and exercises, which will involve them in thinking and discussing, but also at the exam: the students will teach each other important astrophysical applications of the material learned in the course.
Content
Basics about fluids; the equations of motion; simple applications, illustrated with funny experiments; instabilities; turbulence; astrophysical fractals: interstellar medium and galaxies in the Universe; shocks; magnetic fields; gas dynamics vs. stellar dynamics and plasma physics. Birth, life (and death?) of a galaxy: a step-by-step problem. Multi-scale relations in disc galaxies: spirals, bars and central super-massive black holes. State-of-the-art diagnostics for detecting gravitational instabilities in galaxy discs. Dark matter in galaxies.
Organisation
Lectures, exercises and seminars on hot topics.
Literature
Course notes, complemented by selected references on specific topics.
Examination including compulsory elements
The exam is in the form of a seminar. The topic is chosen by the student from a selected list of issues with strong impact on modern research. Questions on other topics studied in the course will also be asked.
The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.