Teaching

The course website for ASTR/PHYS 3070.

Past Courses

ASTR/PHYS 4080: Introduction to Cosmology

Spring 2021

From the course catalog:

Enrollment Requirement: Prerequisites: C- or better in ((PHYS 2500 OR ASTR 2500) AND PHYS 3740 AND PHYS 3760).

Components: Lecture

An introductory course which explores modern cosmological concepts. Discusses formation of galaxies, and clusters of galaxies, the expansion and the age of the Universe. Topics include the existence and properties of the cosmic microwave background, the origin of the light elements, cosmological inflation, and the role of dark matter and dark energy in the formation and expansion of the Universe. The course will introduce concepts of statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, special and general relativity as needed to explore the course topics. Recommended Prerequisites: PHYS 3740, PHYS 3760, and PHYS 4420.

The course website for ASTR/PHYS 4080.

ASTR/PHYS 2500: Foundations Astronomy

Fall 2020

From the course catalog:

Components: Lecture

Enrollment Requirement: Prerequisites: "C-" or better in (((MATH 1220 OR MATH 1250 OR MATH 1320 OR MATH 1321 OR MATH 2210) OR AP Calculus BC score of 4+) AND ((PHYS 2210 OR PHYS 3210) OR AP Physics C Mech score of 4+)).

This Foundations course provides an introduction to the breadth of Astronomy through the use of astronomical examples to reinforce physical concepts such as distance scales, magnitudes, mass, velocity, temperature, pressure and angular momentum. Topics include the celestial sphere, coordinate systems, Kepler's Laws, orbits, eclipses, tides, emission and absorption spectra, astronomical detection of light, telescopes, the Sun, properties of stars, our Galaxy, and galaxies. Recommended Prerequisites: MATH 1220 AND PHYS 2210.

The course website for ASTR/PHYS 2500.

ASTR/PHYS 5590: High Energy Astrophysics

Spring 2020

From the course catalog:

Components: Lecture

Enrollment Requirement: Prerequisites: "C-" or better in ((PHYS 3060 OR PHYS 4070 OR PHYS 4080 OR PHYS 4090 OR ASTR 3060 OR ASTR 4070 OR ASTR 4080 OR ASTR 4090) AND PHYS 3740 AND (MATH 3150 OR MATH 3140 OR MATH 5440)) OR Graduate status in Physics/Astronomy.

Course Attribute Honors Course

A core course intended for graduate students of Physics & Astronomy. This course explores high energy phenomena in a variety of astrophysical settings, including within diffuse plasmas and around compact objects. The physical processes producing radiation and particles will be introduced, and techniques for their detection in the X-ray, gamma ray, and cosmic ray regimes will be discussed. Topics include accretion disks, pulsars, non-magnetized neutron stars, binary X-ray sources, black holes, supernovae and supernova remnants, gamma ray bursts, gravitational wave sources, clusters of galaxies, and active galactic nuclei.

The course website for ASTR/PHYS 5590.

ASTR/PHYS 1060: The Universe

Fall 2019

From the course catalog:

Components: Lecture

Requirement Designation: Physical/Life Science Exploration

Modern astronomy--central theme will be modern science's attempt to understand the nature and origin of the universe at large, including the matter and radiation that make it up. Specific topics include stars, exotic stellar objects (white dwarfs, red giants, neutron stars and black holes), supernova explosions, the origin of atomic elements, galaxies, giant radio sources, quasars, clusters of galaxies, the fabric of space and time, and Big Bang cosmology.

The course website for ASTR/PHYS 1060.

ASTR/PHYS 4080: Introduction to Cosmology

Spring 2019

From the course catalog:

Enrollment Requirement: Prerequisites: C- or better in ((PHYS 2500 OR ASTR 2500) AND PHYS 3740 AND PHYS 3760).

Components: Lecture

An introductory course which explores modern cosmological concepts. Discusses formation of galaxies, and clusters of galaxies, the expansion and the age of the Universe. Topics include the existence and properties of the cosmic microwave background, the origin of the light elements, cosmological inflation, and the role of dark matter and dark energy in the formation and expansion of the Universe. The course will introduce concepts of statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, special and general relativity as needed to explore the course topics. Recommended Prerequisites: PHYS 3740, PHYS 3760, and PHYS 4420.

The course website for ASTR/PHYS 4080.

ASTR/PHYS 1060: The Universe

Fall 2018

From the course catalog:

Components: Lecture

Requirement Designation: Physical/Life Science Exploration

Modern astronomy--central theme will be modern science's attempt to understand the nature and origin of the universe at large, including the matter and radiation that make it up. Specific topics include stars, exotic stellar objects (white dwarfs, red giants, neutron stars and black holes), supernova explosions, the origin of atomic elements, galaxies, giant radio sources, quasars, clusters of galaxies, the fabric of space and time, and Big Bang cosmology.

The course website for ASTR/PHYS 1060.

ASTR/PHYS 4080: Introduction to Cosmology

Spring 2018

From the course catalog:

Enrollment Requirement: Prerequisites: C- or better in ((PHYS 2500 OR ASTR 2500) AND PHYS 3740 AND PHYS 3760).

Components: Lecture

An introductory course which explores modern cosmological concepts. Discusses formation of galaxies, and clusters of galaxies, the expansion and the age of the Universe. Topics include the existence and properties of the cosmic microwave background, the origin of the light elements, cosmological inflation, and the role of dark matter and dark energy in the formation and expansion of the Universe. The course will introduce concepts of statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, special and general relativity as needed to explore the course topics. Recommended Prerequisites: PHYS 3740, PHYS 3760, and PHYS 4420.

The course website for ASTR/PHYS 4080.