Courses

  • High Energy Astrophysics

    Astron C254

    CCN: 34082

    Instructor: Josh Bloom

    Basic physics of high energy radiation processes in an astrophysics environment. Cosmic ray production and propagation. Applications selected from pulsars, x-ray sources, supernovae, interstellar medium, extragalactic radio sources, quasars, and big-bang cosmologies.

    More

  • This course will provide an introduction to High Performance Computing at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) for astrophysicists. The course will teach students how to use Unix, shell scripting, makefiles, compilers, revision control systems, etc., on a cutting edge HPC system. Students will be given accounts at NERSC in order to gain experience running a variety of…

    More

  • Introduction to General Astronomy

    Astro 10 | Summer 6W1

    CCN: 10979

    A description of modern astronomy with emphasis on the structure and evolution of stars, galaxies, and the Universe. Additional topics optionally discussed include quasars, pulsars, black holes, and extraterrestrial communication, etc. Individual instructor's synopses available from the department. To Register: http://classes.berkeley.edu/content/2017-summer-astron-10-001-lec-001

    More

  • Selected Topics in Astronomy

    Astro 9 | Summer 6W2

    CCN: 10978

    Instructor: Steven Beckwith

    This seminar will explore one of a variety of subjects in greater depth than in introductory courses. Possible topics include stars, galaxies, the solar system, the interstellar medium, relativity and cosmology, history of astronomy, observational astronomy, and life in the universe. To Register: http://classes.berkeley.edu/content/2017-summer-astron-9-001-lec-001

    More

  • This is a seminar on Extraterrestrial Life – Is Earth home to the only living organisms in the Universe or should we expect life elsewhere? And if Extraterrestrial Intelligent (ETI) civilizations do exist, could we expect to make contact with them? All the notes presented in class will become available on the course web site. Because of copyright considerations, the…

    More

  • This class is an introduction to scientific programming in Astronomy with the Python programming language. We will cover the basics of Python programming and then apply it to numerical modeling of astrophysical objects and scientific analysis of astronomical data sets. To Register: http://classes.berkeley.edu/content/2017-summer-astron-9-001-lec-002

    More

  • This course is primarily designed as an introductory survey course for undergraduate students– not necessarily physics or astronomy majors– with some background in classical mechanics and electromagnetism, to a pillar of modern physics: relativity. Popular science will be used to motivate and reinforce quantitative concepts by means of often vivid and engaging illustrations, often with a hint of social commentary.…

    More

  • Radiation Processes in Astronomy

    Astron C207

    CCN: 21217

    Instructor: Aaron Parsons

    An introduction to the basic physics of astronomy and astrophysics at the graduate level. Principles of energy transfer by radiation. Elements of classical and quantum theory of photon emission; bremsstrahlung, cyclotron and synchrotron radiation. Compton scattering, atomic, molecular and nuclear electromagnetic transitions. Collisional excitation of atoms, molecules and nuclei.  

    More

  • Planetary Astrophysics

    Astro C249

    CCN: 67235

    Instructor: Courtney Dressing

    Introduces graduate students and advanced undergraduates to the dynamic field of planetary systems. We will cover the instruments and techniques used to detect and characterize planets, planet formation, interior structures of planets, planetary dynamics, planetary atmospheres, habitability, and biosignatures. As part of the course, students will discuss current journal articles and conduct original research.   

    More

  • Stellar Structure and Evolution

    Astro 252

    CCN: 46572

    Instructor:

    Equations of stellar structure, radiative transfer and convection, thermonuclear reactions and stellar energy generations; stellar models, degenerate configurations, evolutionary sequences, supernovae, neutron stars, black holes, nucleosynthesis.

    More