An important part of the course will be the training in observational
techniques. This will take place at Mt. Stromlo Observatory
near Canberra. Students will travel to the Observatory twice during the
year (once as part of the Stars subject ASP3011, and once as part
of the Galaxies subject ASP3032). Here they will use the Observatory's
largest telescope, a 74" diameter instrument, to take observations
of stars in the nearest Galaxies to our ouwn, the Magellanic Clouds.
The Large Magellanic Cloud.
After learning the basics of telescope control and data reduction, the
students will take observsations as part of either (perhaps both,
if weather permits) of two current International Research Projects.
The
first is the
MACHO project, which is searching for dark matter in the Galaxy
by looking for micro-lensing events toward the Magellanic Cloud galaxies.
The second is an attempt to determine the rate of expansion of the Universe,
by measuring the period-lumiosity relation of Cepheid stars to high accuracy.
This will involve
Hubble Space Telescope data which will be used with the results
determined by these observations.
Major in Astrophysics at Monash !
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Mathematics and Physics Departments are presenting a new Astrophysics Major
for third year, beginning in 1996. A full-time course involves 48 workpoints,
and the Astrophysics Course will comprise 24 points, thus making half of a
full-time study program. It is designed to be taken in conjunction with 24
points of either Applied Mathematics or Physics.\par
The four core subjects, of 4 points each, are as follows (0 as second digit):
ASP3011.04 Stars
ASP3021.04 Astrophysical Fluids
ASP3032.04 Galaxies
ASP3042.04 Cosmology
We would normally expect 24 points of Astrophysics to be taken together with
either 24 point of Applied Mathematics or 24 points of Physics, so we
address these cases in detail. Other combinations (e.g., with Earth
Sciences, Computer Science, or Chemistry) are of course possible too.
Astrophysics for Physics Students
---------------------------------
If Physics makes up the other 24 points of the student's enrolment, it will be
necessary to include 8 points of Applied Mathematics in the Astrophysics
Course. This will consist of (Mathematics ==>1 as second digit)
ASP3111.04 Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations
and a choice of one of
ASP3121.04 Special Relativity
ASP3132.04 Techniques for Scientific Computing
Astrophysics for Applied Mathematics Students
---------------------------------------------
If Applied Mathematics makes up the other 24 points of the student's enrolment,
it will be necessary for students wishing to take the full Astrophysics Course
to include some Physics in the Astrophysics course. To this end, we have
packaged selected third year Physics units into two ASP 4-point subjects
(Physics ==>2 as second digit):
ASP3211.04 Physics for Astrophysics I.
This subject consists of the two Physics units:
Applications of Quantum Mechanics
Statistical Mechanics
ASP3222.04 Physics for Astrophysics II
This subject consists of two of the following three
units offered by the Physics Department:
Stellar Atmospheres
Elementary Particles
Nuclear Physics.
Astrophysics for Other Students
-------------------------------
If neither Applied Mathematics nor Physics is being taken at third year level,
or if the enrolment contains a combination of each, an Astrophysics student
wishing to take the whole course would be required to enrol in a suitable
8-point combination of the above Applied Mathematics and Physics subjects (to
be approved by the coordinator).
Observational Component
-----------------------
Students will complete two field trips to Mt. Stromlo Observatory (near
Canberra) for training on their largest research telescope, their 74" diameter
reflector. This program will see the students trained by astronomers at the
Observatory in the basics of handling telescopes and astronomical data. The
observations will be part of one of two international research projects. The
first is a collaboration with the Space Telescope Institute to determine the
expansion of the Universe (by observing variable stars in the nearest Galaxy,
the Large Magellanic Cloud). The other involves the MACHO Project and aims to
determine the distribution of dark matter in our Galaxy.
Course Objectives
-----------------
The Astrophysics course aims to:
1. provide a rigorous and quantitative grounding in theoretical astrophysics
for students with strong backgrounds in Applied Mathematics and Physics,
sufficient to lay a firm foundation for progress into Honours and postgraduate
work in the field;
2. expose students to observational astronomy at a sufficient level to allow
them, as theoreticians, to read and understand observational results, and to
appreciate the link between observation and theory;
3. provide a sufficient introduction to observational astronomy to allow
students to progress to further observational studies in the Physics Department
if desired;
4. introduce physical science students, who may not go on to become
professional astronomers or astrophysicists, to our current knowledge
about the nature of the Universe and some of its most notable components
(this is believed to be particularly useful for future secondary
school physics and general science teachers).
Links to Fourth Year
--------------------
A number of astronomy/astrophysics units and projects are offered in the
Mathematics and Physics Departments. A student wishing to pursue Honours
studies in the field will be adequately catered for in either department, or by
a joint Honours program between the two.
Pre-requisites
--------------
The Astrophysics Course is offered in third year. The pre-requisites are
second year Applied Mathematics and Physics. These in turn have pre-requisites
of First Year Applied Mathematics and Physics. For full details, consult the
1996 handbook entry, or the Astrophysics Co-Ordinator.
Further Information
-------------------
Please direct any questions to Dr. John Lattanzio, Mathematics Building Room
310. Or write to the Astrophysics Co-Ordinator, Department of
Mathematics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168.
Return to my home page .
Return to
Applied Maths page.