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Numerical Recipes in Astrophysics b

Vak
2024-2025

From 2024/2025 onwards, this course will be split into two parts.

Admission requirements

Students must have completed Astronomy master's course Numerical Recipes in Astrophysics a.

Description

In this course you will build on the knowledge gained in NUR A to learn how to code and use more specialist algorithms, which have a surprising range of utility, both in and outside of astrophysics.

The structure of the course is the same as in NUR A: during the lectures we will discuss numerics and consider and derive specific algorithms that are useful in astrophysics, and during the problem classes students will work together on applying this knowledge to a computational problem through coding.

The topics covered in the course are:

  • Fast Fourier transforms and applications

  • Solving ordinary differential equations

  • Basics of machine learning

  • Spatial partitioning

Course objectives

Upon completion of this course you will have a broader perspective on how to solve numerical problems, and have more tools available to tackle these.

In specific, after this course, you will be even better able to:

  • Evaluate the outcomes of computational codes

  • Construct an efficient computer program

  • Solve a wide array of astrophysical problems

Timetable

See Astronomy master schedule

In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.

Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.

Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.

Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.

Mode of instruction

  • Lectures

  • Exercise classes

Assessment method

  • Key assignments

  • Written exam

In addition to a written theory exam, there will be a coding exercise set that will count towards your final grade, under the condition that you achieved a passing grade on the exam. Both the exam and the hand-in exercise will count for 50% of your final grade.

Reading list

  • Numerical Recipes: The Art of Scientific Computing, Third Edition (W.H. Press, S.A. Teukolsky, W.T. Vetterling, B.P. Flannery), ISBN: 9780521880688 (optional)

Registration

As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.

In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.

There are two enrolment periods per year:

  • Enrolment for the fall opens in July

  • Enrolment for the spring opens in December

See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.

Note:

  • It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.

  • Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.

  • Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.

Contact

Lecturer: Dr. M.P. (Marcel) van Daalen

Remarks

Soft skills
After completing this course you will be able to:

  • Work collaboratively on numerical problems

  • Program effectively

Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.