Astronomy
J.W. Gibbs Laboratories, 432.3000
M.S., M.Phil., Ph.D.
Chair
Charles Bailyn
Director of Graduate Studies
Sarbani Basu (274 JWG, 432.3028, sarbani.basu@yale.edu)
Professors
Charles Bailyn, Charles Baltay (Physics), Paolo Coppi, Pierre
Demarque (Emeritus), Jeffrey Kenney, Richard Larson, Peter
Parker (Physics), Sabatino Sofia, Megan Urry (Physics), William
van Altena, Robert Zinn
Assistant Professors
Sarbani Basu, Priyamvada Natarajan, Pieter van Dokkum
Fields of Study
Fields include observational and theoretical galactic
astronomy, solar and stellar astrophysics, astrometry, extragalactic
astronomy, radio astronomy, high-energy astrophysics, and
cosmology.
Special Admissions Requirements
Applicants should have a strong undergraduate preparation in physics and mathematics.
Although some formal training in astronomy is useful, it is by no means required
for admission. Applicants should take the GRE Subject Test in Physics.
Special Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
A typical program of study includes twelve courses
during the first four terms, of which at least four must be
in astronomy. At least two courses (and no more than four)
must be research credits, each earned by working in close
collaboration with a faculty member. The choice of the remaining
courses depends on the candidate’s interests and background.
Students are encouraged to take graduate courses in physics
or other related fields. No individual course is required,
but students normally take the core courses (Stellar Populations,
Stellar Astrophysics, Interstellar Matter and Star Formation,
Stellar Dynamics, Galaxies, Cosmology), which provide a basic
preparation in astronomy, and additional courses related to
their research interests. On an irregular basis, special topic
courses and seminars are offered, which provide the opportunity
to study some fields in greater depth than is possible in the
standard courses. To achieve both breadth and depth in their
education, students are encouraged to take a few courses or
seminars beyond their second year of study. During the course
of their first year of graduate studies, students who have
had little or no previous training in astronomy must demonstrate
in an examination their knowledge of general astronomy at
the undergraduate level.
Teaching experience is an integral part of graduate education in astronomy.
All students will serve as teaching fellows and complete a
total of 9 TF units. Both the levels of teaching assignments
and the scheduling of teaching are flexible. By the end of
the third term, however, most students will have completed
6 TF units. The additional 3 TF units will normally be carried
out with a different professor than the earlier position to
provide broader teaching experience.
Honors Requirement
Students must meet the Graduate
School's Honors requirement by the end of the fourth term
of full-time study.
Master's Degree
M.Phil. See Graduate
School requirements.
M.S. (en route to the Ph.D.). Upon application, the
department will recommend for the award of the M.S. degree
any student who has satisfactorily completed the first year
of the program leading to the Ph.D. degree. The department
requires, in addition, that at least one of the courses taken
during the year be a research course.
Program materials are available upon request to the Director of Graduate Studies,
Department of Astronomy, Yale University, PO Box 208101, New Haven CT 06520-8101.
Courses
[ASTR 510bu, Stellar Populations.]
ASTR 518au, Stellar Dynamics. Gordon
Drukier. MW 10.30–11.20, 1 HTBA
The dynamics and evolution of star clusters; structure
and dynamics of our galaxy; theories of spiral structure;
dynamical evolution of galaxies.
ASTR 520a, Computational Analysis. Paolo
Coppi. 3 HTBA
The analytic and numerical/computational tools necessary
for effective research in astronomy and related disciplines.
Topics include numerical solutions to differential equations,
spectral methods, and Monte Carlo simulations. Applications
are made to common astrophysical problems including fluids
and N-body simulations.
[ASTR 530au, Galaxies.]
[ASTR 540au, Radiative Processes in Astrophysics.]
[ASTR 550bu, Stellar Astrophysics.]
ASTR 555au, Observational Techniques. William
van Altena. MW 1–2.15
The design and use of optical telescopes, cameras, spectrographs,
and detectors to make astronomical observations. The reduction
and analysis of photometric and spectroscopic observations.
ASTR 560bu, Interstellar Matter and Star Formation. Richard
Larson. MW 10.30–11.20, 1 HTBA
Observations of interstellar matter at optical, infrared,
radio, and X-ray wavelengths. Dynamics and evolution of the
interstellar medium including interactions between stars and
interstellar matter. Molecular clouds and processes of star
formation.
ASTR 565a, The Early Universe. Pieter van
Dokkum. TTh 10.30–11.20, 1 HTBA
The emergence of structure in the universe: stars, galaxies,
and clusters of galaxies. Theories of galaxy formation, and
the properties of distant galaxies. Emphasis is placed on
the interplay of theory and observations in this rapidly evolving
field.
[ASTR 570bu, High-Energy Astrophysics.]
ASTR 575b, Topics in Astrometry. William
van Altena.
Dramatic improvements made in the technologies of measurement
and computation over the past few years have made it possible
to use astrometric techniques to investigate current problems
in astronomy and astrophysics. In this seminar we develop
the astrometric techniques required to study the cosmological
distance scale, the spatial and kinematic structure of our
galaxy, and the stellar mass-luminosity relation.
ASTR 580a or b, Research.
By arrangement with faculty.
ASTR 590b, Solar Physics. Sabatino Sofia.
The very detailed observations of the sun have uncovered
properties and variabilities not explainable in terms of standard
models of stellar structure and evolution. This course describes
these observations and develops a theoretical framework to
address them.
ASTR 600b, Cosmology. Priyamvada Natarajan.
The large-scale contents and structure of the universe
and the origin of galaxies. Also PHYS 600b.
[ASTR 705b, Research Seminar in Stellar Population.]
ASTR 710a or b, Professional Seminar. Charles
Bailyn.
A seminar covering science and professional issues in
astronomy.
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