Teaching

Lecture notes and homework assignments available here (password is required to prevent automated searches and will be provided on request).

Computational Astrophysics

(this course was given in winter semester 2008/2009, winter semester 2009/2010 and winter semester 2010/2011 at Technische Universität München together with Ewald Müller. Now it is offered again:)

Winter semester 2011/2012 together with Christian Klingenberg at Universität Würzburg.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2pm – 4pm, Campus Hubland Nord, Emil-Fischer-Str. 31, Seminarraum 31.01.008

Course starts on Tuesday, October 18, 2011.

Slides shown in the course are available (password is required to prevent automated searches and will be provided on request).

Syllabus

The subject of astrophysics are complex objects and phenomena. Seeking for a theoretical understanding, a realistic description is required. To this end, computers have become a major tool of research and with ever more powerful computational resources and modern numerical techniques, a detailed modeling of astrophysical objects has become feasible. Based on general strategies to numerically model astrophysical phenomena, the course aims at describing some recent developments in computational astrophysics.

Introduction to Theoretical Astrophysics (Einführung in die theoretische Astrophysik)

Summer semester 2011, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg

(before: Summer semester 2007, summer semester 2009 [then together with W. Hillebrandt], summer semester 2010 [together with H.-Th. Janka] at Technische Universität München)

Course given in German or English upon request.

Lecture notes and homework assignments are available (password is required to prevent automated searches and will be provided on request).

Syllabus

The aim of this course is to review the aspects of theoretical physics that play an important role in astrophysical phenomena. This provides fundamental tools for a theoretical description of the underlying processes. Each topic is illustrated with astrophysical examples.

Review of the interrelations between astrophysical research areas and the main disciplines of physics
Celestial mechanics
Statistical physics, thermodynamics, and the astrophysical equation of state
Basics of stellar structure and evolution
Basics of radiation transport
Basics of hydrodynamics, fluid discontinuities and fluid instabilities
Dynamical phenomena in astrophysics: White dwarfs, Chandrasekhar mass and thermonuclear supernovae, Gravitational collapse, neutron stars and neutrino driven supernovae

Hauptseminar "Kosmische Explosionen" (Seminar on cosmic explosions, in German)

Summer semester 2011, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg

Schedule and Topics

Presentations and handouts are available (password is required to prevent automated searches and will be provided on request).

Introduction to Computational Astrophysics

XXIV Heidelberg Physics Graduate Days
of the Heidelberg Graduate School of Fundamental Physics and the Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Heidelberg
April 6 – 9, 2010

Slides shown in the course and example programs are available (password is required to prevent automated searches and will be provided to participants at the course.

Syllabus

The subject of astrophysics are complex objects and phenomena. Seeking for a theoretical understanding, a realistic description is required. Therefore, computers have become a major tool of research and with ever more powerful computational resources and modern numerical techniques, a detailed modeling of astrophysical objects has become feasible. I will give an introduction to basic concepts of numerical modeling in astrophysics which can serve as building blocks for developing research-oriented implementations.

Advisor Seminar on Astro-Nuclear Physics

Winter semester 2009/2010
organized by the Max Planck Institutes for Astrophysics and Extraterrestrial Physis and the Technical University of Munich
Wednesdays, 4pm – 5pm, MPE seminar room 1.1.18b, Garching

see the course webpage for more information and for the talks given in the seminar

Physical Cosmology (Physikalische Kosmologie)

Winter semester 2005/2006 at Technical University of Munich.
Course given in German.

Lecture notes are available (password is required to prevent automated searches and will be provided on request).

Syllabus

This course provides an introduction to various aspects of cosmology:

Phenomenological cosmology (distribution of energy and matter; cosmic evolution)
Relativistic cosmology (cosmological theory; models of the Universe)
Classical tests (cosmic microwave background; cosmological parameters (Hubble parameter, deceleration parameter); primordial nucleosynthesis)
The early Universe (baryon and lepton asymmetries; inflation)
Formation of structure and galaxies