PH32041: Computational astrophysics
[Page last updated: 23 April 2025]
| Academic Year: | 2025/26 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Physics |
| Credits: | 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 200 |
| Level: | Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | CWRI 50%, CWSI 25%, EXOB 25% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: |
Before taking this module you must take PH22007 OR take PH20105 OR take PH20123 OR take PH20018
While taking this module you must take PH32014 |
| Learning Outcomes: |
After taking this unit, the student should be able to:
芒锟铰e-dimensionalise an equation representing a physical system;
芒锟铰iscretise a differential equation using grid and basis set methods;
芒锟铰utline the essential features of each of the simulation techniques introduced and give examples of their use in contemporary science;
芒锟铰dentify the strengths and weaknesses of a computational approach to modelling;
芒锟铰emonstrate practical application of computational techniques to selected physics problems;
芒锟铰xplain the methodology, relevant issues and output of the investigations performed;
芒锟铰rite and develop structured Python, C and/or C++ code to analyse astrophysical problems;
芒锟铰utline the physics and computational issues relevant to the topics of the computational astrophysics projects, and explain the methodology and output of the simulations performed. |
| Synopsis: | This unit will introduce you to the practical use of computer modelling as a complement to theoretical and experimental solution of physical problems, including some of the issues involved in constructing mathematical models of physical processes. You will learn about major techniques of computational modelling, and use them to explore a range of topics in physics. You will also undertake three computational astrophysics physics projects, using Python, C and/or C++. |
| Content: | 11 hours of lectures plus 22 hours of PC labs covering:
Construction of a mathematical model of a physical system, discretisation and de-dimensionalisation;
Numerical methods for ODE and PDE initial value problems, numerical stability;
Linear algebra methods;
Numerical methods for ODE and PDE boundary value problems, finite difference and finite element methods;
Many-body problems;
High-performance computing, parallelisation.
Computational Astrophysics Projects:
Three substantial investigative computational astrophysics projects, carried out using Python/C/C++. The projects will be drawn from a range of topics in computational astrophysics, including stellar structure, astrophysical N-body systems, Monte Carlo radiative transfer and computational gas dynamics. |
| Course availability: |
PH32041 is Optional on the following courses:Department of Physics
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Notes:
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