Graduate Course Descriptions

Graduate Course Syllabi

Undergraduate Course Offerings

Undergraduate Course Descriptions

Undergraduate Course Syllabi

Schedule of Classes

UCSC Catalog

Astronomy & Astrophysics
201 Interdisciplinary Sciences Building (ISB)
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Phone: (831) 459-2844
Fax: (831) 459-5265
Email: dept@astro.ucsc.edu
Maps & Directions

ASTR 202 - Electromagnetism and Plasma Physics
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 cannot receive credit for both courses.) Offered in alternate academic years.

ASTR 204A - Physics of Astrophysics I
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.

ASTR 204B - Physics of Astrophysics II
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.

ASTR 205 - Introduction to Astronomical Research
Lectures by UCSC faculty on current areas of astronomical and astrophysical research being carried out locally. Enrollment restricted to graduate students.  G. Smith

ASTR 222 - Planetary Science
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.

ASTR 224 - Origin and Evolution of the Universe
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 cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment restricted to graduate students. (Formerly The Very Early Universe.) Offered in alternate academic years.

ASTR 226 - General Relativity
Develops the formalism of Einstein's general relativity, including solar system tests, gravitational waves, cosmology, and black holes. Offered in alternate academic years. (Also offered as Physics 226. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment restricted to graduate students.

ASTR 231 - Astrophysical Gas Dynamics
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

ASTR 240A - Galactic and Extragalactic Stellar Systems
Structure and evolutionary histories of nearby galaxies. Stellar populations, galactic dynamics, dark matter, galactic structure and mass distributions. Peculiar galaxies and starbursting galaxies. Structure and content of the Milky Way. Evolution of density perturbations in the early universe. Hierarchical clustering model for galaxy formation and evolution.

ASTR 240B - Galactic and Extragalactic Stellar Systems
Galaxy formation and evolution from observations of intermediate-to-high redshift galaxies (z 0.5-5). Complements and builds on 240A. Cluster galaxies and field galaxies. Foundation from classic papers on distant galaxies. Recent discoveries from IR and sub-mm measurements. Impact of AGNs and QSOs. Overview of modeling approaches. Identify theoretical and observational issues. Enrollment restricted to graduate students.

ASTR 240C - Galactic and Extragalactic Stellar Systems
Cosmological models. Recombination epoch and thermal history of the intergalactic medium. Formation of first structures: minihalos, stars, and black holes. Cosmological reionization and early metal enrichment. Radiative transfer in a clumpy universe. Quasar absorption systems. Galaxies at high redshifts and cosmic star formation history. The nature of QSOs and active galaxies. Extragalactic background radiation. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. Offered in alternate academic years.

ASTR 257 - Modern Observational Techniques
Astronomical telescopes and detectors. Astronomical observing techniques. The reduction of observations. Machine shop practice in instrument construction. Offered in alternate academic years.

ASTR 289 - Special Topics in Astrophysics
Occasional courses in particular areas of current interest.

ASTR 292 - Seminar (No Credit)
Seminar attended by faculty, graduate students, and upper-division undergraduate students.

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