AST9110 ¨C Numerical Modeling

Course content

This course provides an introduction to numerical methods used in astrophysics and especially in the modeling of systems described by the partial?differential?equations (PDE).

Learning outcome

After completing?this course, you will be able to:

• describe the discretization of simple?PDE's such as the advection equation.

• examine?the stability of difference?equations using von Neumann stability analysis.

• explain the implicit and explicit numerical schemes and solution techniques for these.

• acquire expertise in characteristic equations.

• use continuous integration, cloud platforms and git (github/gitlab) among other tools.

Admission to the course

PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.

If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers¡¯ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.

PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.

The course has a max capacity of 15 students. Based on experience, there is generally room for everyone who applies for admission to the course within the deadline.

Recommended previous knowledge

Bachelor¡¯s Degree from Fysikk og astronomi (bachelor) or comparable.

Master's Degree in Astronomy?or comparable.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with AST5110 ¨C Numerical Modeling.

Teaching

Teaching extends over one semester.?3 hours of lectures will be given every day in an intensive two-week period at the beginning of the semester. During?the?rest of the semester?candidates will be working on a major?project?assignment that will be?adapted to the?PhD level, where they will code,?and?receive?individual digital?supervision on a weekly basis.

During the?first two weeks of teaching,?candidates will also be given 6 compulsory?exercises that will be adapted to the?PhD level. These assignments?must be approved before?candidates can?start working on the major?project assignment. At the end of the semester, candidates are expected to give an oral presentation of major project assignments and learned course experiences. This presentation will be part of the assessment in the course.

Examination

During the semester, the candidates will work on a major project assignment that will be adapted to the?PhD level. Results from the project assignment will be presented orally at the end of the semester and delivered in slides / a presentation. The presentation of the project assignment will be the basis for a final oral exam, which counts 70% towards the final grade. The compulsory exercises and delivered presentation slides will make up 30% of the final grade, where each will count as 5%.

This course has 6 compulsory exercises that must be approved before the final exam.

It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for the following course: AST5110 ¨C Numerical Modeling

Examination support material

All support material is allowed during work with the project assignment.?Only the project assignment is allowed during the oral exam.

Language of examination

The examination is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.