Fall  2009  Astro  Courses

Fall 2009-2010

AST 301 / PHY 321   No Pass/D/Fail
General Relativity
Jeremy J. Goodman
Einstein's theory of general relativity and its astrophysical implications, including black holes, cosmological expansion, and gravitational waves.

Sample reading list:
Hartle, James B., Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity
Schutz, B.F., A First Course in General Relativity

Reading/Writing assignment:
One problem set every other week.

Requirements/Grading:
Mid Term Exam - 20%
Final Exam - 40%
Problem set(s) - 40%
Other Requirements:
Required Course for Concentrators.
Not Open to Freshmen.

Prerequisites and Restrictions:
MAT 201, 202 or 203, 204. PHY 203..

Other information:
Designed for science and engineering majors. PHY304 or equivalent is desirable but not required.

Schedule/Classroom assignment:

AST 513  
Dynamics of Stellar and Planetary Systems
Roman R. Rafikov
Galactic structure, morphology and dynamics. Equilibrium and stability of stellar systems. The gravitational N-body problem, relaxation, dynamical friction, and the Fokker-Planck equation. Encounters and mergers of stellar systems. Spiral structure. Elements of planetary dynamics and celestial mechanics.

Sample reading list:
Binney & Merrifield, Galactic Astronomy
Binney & Tremaine, Galactic Dynamics
Murray & Dermott, Solar System Dynamics

Other Requirements:
Not Open to Freshmen.

Schedule/Classroom assignment:

AST 541   P/D/F Only
Seminar in Theoretical Astrophysics
Adam S. Burrows
Designed to stimulate students in the pursuit of research. Participants in this seminar discuss critically papers given by seminar members. Ordinarily, several staff members also participate. Often topics are drawn from published data that present unsolved puzzles of interpretation.


Other Requirements:
Not Open to Freshmen.

Website:  http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~burrows/classes/541

Schedule/Classroom assignment: