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402-0355-03L 4 Credits DR , MSC D-MATH , D-PHYS

Advanced Computational Methods in Astrophysics

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Judit Szulágyi
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:07:25

Abstract

In this course various (astro)physical problems will be solved with diverse computational methods: Fourier-transformation, population synthesis & Markov chain Monte Carlo, N-body simulations, Hydrodynamical/Computational fluid dynamics simulations, High Performance Computing, radiative transfer, advanced visualization techniques.

Objective

We review the various computational methods used in (astro)physics, with a problem-oriented approach: we take an astrophysical problem and discuss how to solve that type of problem numerically. We will do data analysis, computer simulations, and visualization approaches that are not only used in astrophysics, but other physical fields, mathematical fields and engineering.

Content

- advanced linux terminal commands & scripts, e.g. how to use awk as a computing tool, how to manipulate big data with shell scripts - astronomical databases and archives to retrieve data for computations & statistics - Gnuplot as a visualization and computing tool - time series analysis (Discrete Fourier Transformation, power spectrum, box-fitting least square) - population synthesis & Markov chain Monte Carlo - N-body simulations - hydrodynamical/computational fluid dynamics simulations (various methods, mesh refinement) - 3D visualization and rendering with Paraview, streamline integration, animations - basics of High Performance Computing - Radiative Transfer with flux limited diffusion approx, role of opacity, opacity considerations and computations; Radiative transfer with ray-tracing approach (using RADMC-3D)

General Information

Language
English
Levels
DR , MSC

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
Project to hand in by each student separately.

Registration & Places

Max Places
20

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Advanced Computational Methods in Astrophysics
Online block course on Zoom: This lecture will take place online. Reserved rooms will remain reserved on campus for students to follow the course from there. Time: 15:00-16:30 and 16:45 – 18:15
  • 02.05. - 10.05 Date 14:45-18:30 (HIT F 11.1)
  • 06.05 Date 14:45-18:30 (HIT J 51)
28 h semesterly

Offered In