NFYK15014U Gravitational Dynamics and Galaxy Formation
MSc Programme in Physics
The course will cover the most important ideas in the field of galaxy formation and chemical enrichment. We will discuss reionisation of the intergalactic medium, relevant timescales for interactions in galaxies and clusters, observations of high-redshift galaxies. We will work with the properties of structures (consisting of dark matter, stars, and/or gas) formed by gravity.
Knowledge:
- The reionisation of the Universe
- Dark matter, stellar and gas structures. Their properties, creation and development.
- Rotation curves of spiral galaxies
- Hydrostatic equilibrium, and its application on galaxies and galaxy clusters.
- Jeans equation, the solution hereof, and application on realistic systems.
- Equilibrium of collisionsless systems, Boltzmann equation. Potential theory. Stellar motions.
Skills:
- The ability to determine rotation curves for spiral galaxies from real data.
- The ability to estimate chemical abundances from spectra of high-redshift quasars and gamma-ray bursts
- Deep insight and certain application of the basic equations for cosmological structures.
- Detailed knowledge of the solutions of the Jeans equation, and its application to realistic systems.
- Detailed knowledge of the application of hydrostatic equilibrium for realistic systems.
- The ability to critically interpret scientific overview articles within the subject.
Competences:
This course will provide the student with a qualitative
understanding of cosmological structures. The student will also
develop the conceptual, mathematical and numerical skills
needed when studying the literature within the subject and in wider
astrophysical connections. The course will establish a solid
foundation for a M.Sc. project in phenomenological,
theoretical or observational astrophysics.
Articles and notes.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 40
- Preparation
- 126
- Exercises
- 40
- Total
- 206
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 30 minutes
- Type of assessment details
- oral exam with exam questions known beforehand. 30 minutes including grading. No preparation time.
- Aid
- Only certain aids allowed
the student may bring a piece of paper for each exam question.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Re-exam
same as regular exam
Criteria for exam assesment
see "learning outcome"
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NFYK15014U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedule
- B
- Course capacity
- No limitation – unless you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
Study board
- Study Board of Physics, Chemistry and Nanoscience
Contracting department
- The Niels Bohr Institute
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Sune Toft (sune@nbi.ku.dk)
Lecturers
Sune Toft