Computational Atomic Physics with Applications in Astrophysics, 10 credits
Academic year 2022/2023
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Summer 2022, 50%, Distance learning
Start date: 6 June 2022
End date: 28 August 2022
Application deadline: 15 March 2022
Application code: UU-63121 Application
Language of instruction: English
Location: Flexible
Selection: Higher education credits in science and engineering (maximum 240 credits)
Outline for distance course: Communication between teachers and students is done using the learning management system and e-meeting tools. A computer with a stable internet connection and webcam is required.
The course is organised in two parts. The first part consists of lectures and workshops during the first 4-5 weeks (until mid July). The second part consists of a larger project that will be conducted during 2 weeks (distributed during July and August after agreement with the allocated supervisor). The course ends with a common seminar where the projects are presented.Number of mandatory meetings on campus: 0
Number of voluntary meetings on campus: 0
Registration: 5 May 2022 – 5 June 2022
Entry requirements: 120 credits in science/engineering with Quantum Physics and Computer Programming I. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.
Fees:
If you are not a citizen of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland, you are required to pay application or tuition fees. Formal exchange students will be exempted from tuition fees, as well as the application fee. Read more about fees.
Application fee: SEK 900
Tuition fee, first semester: SEK 24,167
Tuition fee, total: SEK 24,167
About the course
A summer course focused on theoretical atomic structure and processes in the context of astrophysical spectra. The course is taught from a practical, computational point of view using research-level scientific methods and codes with a strong emphasis on numerical "experiments".
The following subjects are introduced and used in practice throughout the course,
- Atomic structure: the central-field approximation, electron correlation, relativistic effects, bound and continuum states.
- Atomic processes: radiative transitions, photoionisation, electron scattering processes.
- Methods: Hartree- and Dirac-Fock methods for computing non-relativistic and relativistic atomic structure, configuration-interaction and multi-configurational Hartree/Dirac-Fock to include electron correlation, Z-dependent perturbation theory to estimate how different atomic properties varies with the nuclear charge, R-matrix methods for radiative and electron scattering processes involving the continuum.
- Applications: atomic parameters in the analysis of astrophysical spectra, basic plasma modelling in and out of equilibrium, partition functions, Saha-Boltzmann equations, setting up and solving the rate equations.