2A-2B. Introduction to the Physical Universe.Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Thorough introductory survey of astronomy for students not planning to major in physical sciences. Same topics as course 3 but in greater depth, with emphasis on physical reasoning. 2A. Planets and Stars; 2B. Galaxies and Cosmology. Enforced requisite: course 2A (C or better.).
3. Astronomy: Nature of the Universe. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Not open to students with credit for or currently enrolled in course 3H, 81 or 82. No special mathematical preparation required beyond that necessary for admission to the University in freshman standing. Course for general University students, normally not intending to major in physical sciences, on development of ideas in astronomy and what has been learned of the nature of the universe, including recent discoveries and developments.(Fall,Winter,Spring).
3H. Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Not open to students with credit for or currently enrolled in course 3. Introduction to astronomy and astrophysics for freshmen who are seriously interested in science. Requires ability to understand mathematical and physical concepts, but high school algebra and trigonometry classes provide sufficient qualification. Particularly recommend for declared or potential majors in astrophysics or in physical and mathematical sciences. (Fall)
4. Universe of Stars and Stellar Systems. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Enforced requisite: course 3 or 3H. Essentially non-mathematical course for general University students with previous introduction to astronomy; sequel to course 3, dealing in greater detail with stars and stellar systems. Various observed types of stars in relation to their internal structure and evolutionary state. Interacting binary stars, pulsating stars, explosive stars (novae and supernovae). Mass loss from stars, stellar wind. Galactic and planetary nebulae and their relation to stars. Interstellar medium. Initial stages of stellar evolution ( protostars, T Tauri stars) and final stages (degenerate and collapsed stars). Stellar systems from cluster to galaxies. (Fall)
5. Life in the Universe. Preparation: prior introduction to astronomy. Life on Earth and prospects of life elsewhere in the context of the evolution of the universe from the simple to complex. Course material primarily from astronomy and biology but includes some chemistry, geology, and physics. Selected topics treated in some depth, but with little or no formal mathematics. (Winter)
6. Cosmology: Our Changing Concepts of the Universe. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Enforced requisite: course 3 or 3h. Essentially non-mathematical exposition of our ideas about the structure and evolution of the universe. Historical development of ideas up to the present time. Problem of cosmic center and cosmic edge. Space and time. Curvature of space. General relativity. Black holes. Expanding universe and cosmological redshift. Early stages of the universe, Big Bang, current ideas of the inflationary universe. (Spring)
81. Astrophysics I: Stars and Nebulae. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, one hour. Enforced requisites: Mathematics 31A, 31B, and Physics 8A. Open to qualified sophomore and upper division students. Survey of our knowledge about stars: their distances, masses, luminosities, temperatures, and interrelations between these parameters. Methods and importance for astrophysics. Variable stars. Planetary and gaseous nebulae. (Winter)
82. Astrophysics II: Stellar Evolution, Galaxies, and Cosmology. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Enforced requisites: Mathematics 31A, 31B, and Physics 8A. Recommended: course 81, Physics 8B, 8C. Open to qualified sophomore and upper division students. Basic principles of stellar structure and evolution. Red giants, white dwarfs, novae, supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes. Pulsars and galactic X-ray sources. Milky Way galaxy and the interstellar medium. Extragalactic astronomy, galaxy clustering, active galactic nuclei, and quasars. Introduction to cosmology: Hubble law., thermal history of the Bing Bang, and earliest moments of the universe. (Spring)
88A-88Z. Lower Division Seminars (2 units each). Discussion, two hours; outside study, four hours. Limited to freshmen. Variable topics; consult Schedule of Classes for the topics to be offered in specific term. P/NP or letter grading:
88A. Cosmic Evolution. Varied astronomical and physical processes of evolution; discussion of how, over billions of years, basic mechanisms of cosmic evolution have transformed universe from fiery origin at Big Bang into abode for intelligent life.
115. Statistical Mechanics and its application to Astrophysics. Lecture, three hours. Prerequisites: Mathematics 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B, 33A, 33B, Physics 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D. Particle distributions, partition functions, black body radiation, Saha equation, degeneracy. Applications to stellar atmospheres, stellar interiors, and the interstellar medium. (Winter)
117. Radiation and Fluids in Astrophysics. Lecture, three hours. Prerequisites: course 115 or equivalent and junior standing in astrophysics or physics, or consent of instructor. Emission and absorption of radiation by matter, spectroscopy, spectral lines, and radiative transfer. Hydrodynamics and shock waves. Applications to stars, to interstellar and intergalactic media, and to the early universe. (Spring)
127. Stellar Atmospheres, Interiors, and Evolution. Lecture, three hours. Prerequisite: senior standing in astrophysics or physics or consent of instructor. Recommended: courses 115, 117. Physical conditions in stellar interiors. Energy production in stars. Stellar evolution from star formation through normally observed stages to white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Novae, supernovae, other variable stars, chromospheres and coronae of sun and stars. Evolution of binary stars. Analysis of stellar atmospheres. (Spring)
140. Stellar Systems and Cosmology. Lecture, three hours. Prerequisite: senior standing in astrophysics or physics or consent of instructor. Properties of star clusters and galaxies with particular emphasis on Milky Way galaxy. Clusters and superclusters of galaxies. Extragalactic distance scale. Quasars and active galaxies. Topics in cosmology, including expansion of the universe, microwave background, galaxy formation from primordial fluctuations, and observational constraints on the Big Bang. (winter)
180. Astrophysics Laboratory. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, four hours. Prerequisities: junior or senior standing in astrophysics, physics, or a related field, consent of instructor. Lectures covers statistical methods in astrophysics, one- and two-dimensional random processes, and numerical methods. Laboratory experiments involve radio astronomy, interferometry, narrow-band solar imaging, and visual photometry. Emphasis on use of computers for automatic collection of data and for processing two-dimensional astronomical images. (Fall)
199. Special Studies (2 or 4 units). Prerequisites: senior standing in astrophysics or physics (with an outstanding record), consent of instructor. Special studies with an individual faculty member.