PHYS 6057 - Astrophysical Data Analysis

Credit Hours: 3

Description In this course, students will learn data analysis and visualization techniques using modern tools to analyze and interpret real-world data from astronomy and astrophysics research. Students will learn how to work with both observational and simulation datasets to pull quantitative physical insight out of datasets. Students will work with photometric data, spectroscopic data cubes, and light curves to learn how to interpret and analyze data from observations of individual objects, as well as large surveys. Data from simulations of galaxy formation will be used to see the overlap and differences between observational and simulation data sets. An emphasis will be placed on deriving physical quantities (such as mass profiles, orbits, temperatures, etc.) from observational or simulation data (such as surface brightness profiles, particle positions, light curves, etc.). PREREQUISITE(S): PHYS 3011 and PHYS 3050 or Permission of instructor