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The University of Arizona 1993-95 General Catalog Catalog Home All UA Catalogs UA Home
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Astronomy (ASTR) 949 N. Cherry Avenue, Room N204 (520) 621-2288 Professors Peter A. Strittmatter, Head, J. Roger Angel, W. David Arnett, John Black, Adam Burrows, Thomas Gehrels (Lunar and Planetary Laboratory), William F. Hoffmann, J. R. Jokipii, Robert C. Kennicutt, Jr., James W. Liebert, Frank J. Low, George H. Rieke, Elizabeth Roemer, Thomas L. Swihart, Rodger I. Thompson, William G. Tifft, Neville J. Woolf Astronomer Craig B. Foltz Associate Professors Willy Benz, John Bieging, William J. Cocke, Christopher Impey, Fulvio Melia, Andrzej G. Pacholczyk, Marcia Rieke, Gary D. Schmidt, Raymond E. White Assistant Professors Jill Bechtold, Christopher Walker Associate Astronomers Donald W. McCarthy, Jr., Erick T. Young The Department of Astronomy offers several introductory general education courses, as well as Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs. For graduate admission and degree requirements, consult the Graduate Catalog. Major: The B.S. in Astronomy major is designed to prepare students for graduate work or professional employment in astronomy, astrophysics, and related fields. The curriculum combines courses and research in astronomy and astrophysics with a strong foundation of courses in physics and mathematics. The major requires 33 units. Required courses are ASTR 300a-300b, 302, 400a-400b, and 499 (senior research project); PHYS 410, 415a, 425, and 435; and a 3-unit course in mathematics, statistics, or computational techniques, selected from a list approved by the department. (Students pursuing a double major with physics may substitute other upper-division courses in astronomy, mathematics, physics, or planetary science for the physics courses listed above.) Prerequisites to the required courses include MATH 125a-125b, 223, 254; and PHYS 111a-111b, 112a-112b (or 110, 116, 121, 330). As explained below, these prerequisite courses may be used to fulfill the minor requirement. A theoretical astrophysics concentration is also available to majors in this department. This concentration is an informal program of mentoring and research opportunities for students with high academic standing. Interested students should contact their department advisor for information about this program. Prospective students should be aware that the curriculum for this major is very demanding, and requires solid preparation in high school mathematics and science. A student who lacks such preparation should expect to take longer than four years to complete the degree requirements. Minors: For department majors, an optional structured minor consisting of MATH 125a-125b, 223, and 254; and PHYS 111a-111b (or 110, 116) is available. Other minor options are available to students in other departments. These include a 20-unit technical minor, mainly for science and engineering majors, and a 20-unit liberal arts minor for students in other fields. Consult the College of Arts and Sciences or the astronomy department office for details. Teaching Majors: The department does not offer a teaching major in astronomy. However, students interested in secondary school science teaching may earn teaching majors in Physics or Earth Science (which includes astronomy). Information on these majors is given under the catalog listings for the Department of Physics and the Department of Geosciences, respectively. The department participates in the Honors Program. 100.* Essentials of Astronomy (3) I II S A survey of astronomy, with attention to its interdisciplinary aspects and its relationships to other sciences. Planetarium work and some night- time observing sessions and field trips supplement class lectures. Primarily for nonscience majors. 101L. Astronomy Laboratory (1) I II S Projects, telescope observing, planetarium work, discussions. Can be taken alone or with 100. Combination is equivalent to 110a. Labwork includes frequent mathematical calculations using basic algebra. Recommended preparation is satisfactory completion of the University entrance requirement in mathematics. 105. The Universe and Humanity: Origin and Destiny (3) I II (Identical with PTYS 105) 106. Survey of the Solar System (4) I II (Identical with PTYS 106) 110a-110b.* Introductory Astronomy (4-4) A broad introduction to traditional and modern astronomy combining class lectures, planetarium and lab. work, and night-time observing and field trips. 110b: P, 100 or 110a. Labwork includes frequent mathematical calculations, using basic algebra. Recommended preparation is satisfactory completion of the University entrance requirements in mathematics. *Credit will be allowed for only one of the following: 100 or 110a. 300a-300b. Astronomy and Astrophysics (3-3) I II A quantitative approach to astronomy and astrophysics. P, MATH 125a; PHYS 110 or 111a. 302. Introduction to Observational Astronomy (3) II Observational applications of coordinate systems and time; basics of astronomical instruments; photodetectors; measuring equipment and reduction techniques. Practice in observing. 2R, 3L. P, MATH 125a. 320. Philosophical and Historical Aspects of Astronomical Thought (3) II Historical development of astronomical concepts and the scientific method; cosmological concepts from ancient times to the present; controversies in astronomy in the recent past and at present. 400a-400b. Theoretical Astrophysics (3-3) Stars, interstellar matter, galaxies, radio sources, cosmology. P, MATH 254, 6 units upper-division physics. 400a is a Writing-Emphasis Course. P, Satisfaction of the upper-division writing-proficiency requirement (see "Writing-Emphasis Courses" in the Academic Policies and Graduation Requirements section of this catalog). 403. Introduction to the Solar System (3) I 1993-94 (Identical with PTYS 403) May be convened with 503. 418. Modern Astronomical Instrumentation and Techniques (3) I 1993-94 Radiant energy; signals and noise; detectors and techniques for imaging, photometry, polarimetry and spectroscopy. Examples from stellar and planetary astronomy in the x-ray, optical, infrared and radio. (Identical with PTYS 418) May be convened with 518. 502. Astronomical Instrumentation Project (3) II 1993-94 Design, construction, and testing of an astronomical instrument chosen by each student under the guidance and supervision of the instructor. Regular class sessions are devoted to discussing techniques and reporting progress and problems. 503. Introduction to the Solar System (3) I 1993-94 (Identical with PTYS 503) May be convened with 403. 515. Interstellar Medium and Star Formation (3) II 1994-95 Derivation of physical conditions from spectral data. Ionized, atomic and molecular clouds, interstellar dust and magnetic fields. Ionization equilibrium, heating and cooling, shocks, dynamics, collapse and fragmentation, outflows and protostellar evolution. 518. Modern Astronomical Instrumentation and Techniques (3) I 1993-94 For a description of course topics, see 418. Graduate- level requirements include an in-depth research paper. (Identical with PTYS 518) May be convened with 418. 522. Atomic and Molecular Astrophysics (3) I 1994-95 Interpretation of astronomical spectra: basic aspects of atomic and molecular spectra and processes that enable one to infer physical conditions in astronomical environments from analysis of their electromagnetic spectra. Familiarity with basic quantum mechanics is assumed. 523. Statistical Mechanical Problems in the Space Sciences (3) I 1994-95 (Identical with PTYS 523) 535. Stellar Structure (3) II 1993-94 Equations of stellar structure, virial theory, energy transport, equations of state, opacities, nuclear reactions, stellar models, evolution of low and high mass stars, observational tests, rotation and magnetic fields, binary evolution. 540. Structure and Dynamics of Galaxies (3) I 1994-95 Observational properties of galaxies; structure, kinematics, star and gas content. Structure of our own galaxy. Dynamics of stellar systems: equilibria, instabilities, internally and externally driven evolution. 541. Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology (3) II 1994-95 The structure, origin and evolution of the physical universe from theory and observations of systems outside our own galaxy. Relativistic cosmology; galaxy evolution and clustering; active galaxies and quasars; the microwave background; galaxy formation; the hot big bang; and physics of the early universe. P, 540. 545. Stellar Atmospheres (3) I 1993-94 Radiative transfer, gray atmosphere, opacity, line formation, non-LTE, curves of growth, stellar hydrodynamics, planetary applications. (Identical with PTYS 545) 553. Solar System Dynamics (3) II 1993-94 (Identical with PTYS 553) 555. Remote Sensing of Planetary Surfaces (3) II 1993-94 (Identical with PTYS 555) 556a-556b. Electrodynamics of Conducting Fluids and Plasmas (3-3) 1994-95 (Identical with PTYS 556a-556b) 575. General Relativity and Cosmology (3) II 1994-95 General relativity with application to celestial mechanics, stellar structure, gravitational radiation, black holes, gravitational lensing and cosmology. Cocke 582. High Energy Astrophysics (3) II 1993-94 Radiation mechanisms, synchrotron radiation, charged particle acceleration, pulsars, black holes, accretion disks, X-ray binaries, gamma-ray sources, radio galaxies, actice galactic nuclei. (Identical with PHYS 582 and PTYS 582) 589. Topics in Theoretical Astrophysics (3) [Rpt.] I (Identical with PHYS 589) |
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