Computational Astrophysics (U03743)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : PHY-4-CompAst

This course provides an introduction to advanced computational techniques used for numerical simulations in astrophysics involving gravity and/or fluids. The topics include N-body methods for solving gravity problems and numerical hydrodynamics techniques for fluids.

Astrophysical topics for which the methods are used include cosmological simulations of structure formation in the Universe, the evolution of stellar systems (galaxies and star clusters), the formation of stars and planetary systems, and the collisions of neutron stars and black holes as a model for gamma-ray bursters. For more information on the sort of topics to which the methods are applied, please see: http://www.roe.ac.uk/~aam/ecca.

Although the examples are drawn from astrophysics, the methods taught are applicable to a wide range of problems in computational physics. The course is continuously assessed on the basis of course exercises and a computing project: there is no Degree Examination.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : At least 40 credit points accrued in courses of SCQF Level 9 or 10, including Computational Methods (PHY-3-CompMeth) or Advanced Computer Simulation (PHY-3-CompSim).

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Undergraduate (School of Physics), (School of Physics, Schedule Q)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 8 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 7 hour(s) per week for 3 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
18/09/2007	15:00	16:00			Supa Room - 6224 - JCMB

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	15:00	15:50	KB
Lecture	Friday	15:00	15:50	KB

? Additional Class Information : Workshop/Tutorial Sessions as arranged.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, a student should be able to demonstrate understanding of and be able to show:

1. Ability to adapt existing direct N-body packages to solve a new problem of physical or astrophysical interest. This includes sufficient awareness of the algorithms on which the codes are based to alter the initial conditions appropriately, understand the output, check the accuracy of the results, and manipulate and display them using standard unix tools.

2. Ability to formulate and understand the equations relevant for hydrodynamics in conservative and non-conservative form.

3. Ability to discretise the equations relevant for hydrodynamics in conservative form.

4. Ability to numerically implement as computer code a subset of the equations relevant for hydrodynamics.

5. Knowledge of concepts of source terms, Eulerian and Lagangian formulations, implicit and explicit formulations, finite difference approximations, finite difference/volume/element methods.

6. Ability to describe the Particle-Mesh method of solving
the Poisson equation.

7. Ability to numerically implement as computer code a subset of the equations relevant for Particle-Mesh simulations.

8. Ability to explain properties of the Discrete Fourier Transform.

9. Ability to express the equations for gravitational dynamics in Fourier space.

10. Understand the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) implementation of the hydrodynamics equations.

11. Have an understanding of the situations in which a Lagrangian treatment (as used by SPH) may be more appropriate than a Eulerian treatment.

12. Understand the different techniques for calculating the gravitational force - direct versus PM versus TREE code.