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* * *  Astronomy 127 - Cosmology and Galaxy Formation - Spring 2011  * * *
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Course website:  http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~george/ay127/

Instructors: Chris Hirata, chirata[AT]tapir.caltech.edu, x-2563, 272 Cahill
             George Djorgovski, george[AT]astro.caltech.edu, x-4415, 208 Cahill

         TA: Kunal Mooley, kunal[AT]astro.caltech.edu
             Office hours: by arrangement

Times and location:  Mon & Wed 10:30 - 12, in 219 Cahill

Textbook: M. Longair, "Galaxy formation", QB981 .L66 1998
          It will be supplemented by additional readings to be posted,
          especially for the observational results - a fast-changing field!
          There are many other good cosmology books, so feel free to explore.

Grading:  40% homeworks, 20% midterm, 30% final, 10% class participation

          Late homework penalty:  -50% per day or fraction thereof.  We will
          give indulgences only for really good reasons (sickness, if you have
          a note from the doctor; death in the immediate family; being abducted
          by a UFO, with a convincing proof; etc.).  No late exams will be
          accepted, except maybe for -very- serious health related reasons.

Collaboration policy:  NO collaboration is allowed for the final and midterm
          exams.  For the homework, you can discuss the problems with other
          students, but only in general terms, and you have to derive your
          own solutions.  You CANNOT use any old homework solutions from
          anyone or anywhere or anywhen.  The honor code applies.  

The anticipated schedule of lectures (subject to changes):

Wed Mar 30  CH  FRW models; Friedmann equation; redshift and scale factor
Mon Apr  4  GD  Hubble constant, ages
Wed Apr  6  GD  Classical cosmological tests, the contents of the universe 
Mon Apr 11  CH  Radiation-dominated era, cosmic nucleosynthesis
Wed Apr 13  CH  CMB spectrum and recombination
Mon Apr 18  CH  Intro. to perturbations I
Wed Apr 20  CH  Intro. to perturbations II
Mon Apr 25  CH  CMB anisotropies I
Wed Apr 27  CH  CMB anisotropies II
Mon May  2  CH  CMB polarization, nonlinear structure formation
Wed May  4  GD  Large scale structure, evolution of clustering, bias
Mon May  9  GD  Peculiar velocities; contents of the universe I
Tue May 10* GD  Contents of the universe II; Galaxy clusters; (grav. lensing)
Wed May 11  CH  (The nature of dark matter and dark energy; origin of perturb.)
Tue May 17* WS  Intergalactic medium and its evolution, absorption systems
Wed May 18  BR  Galaxy formation and evolution, star formation history
Mon May 23  GD  Galaxy evolution, scaling laws, star formation history
Tue May 24* GD  Active galactic nuclei: phenomenology, unification, evolution
Wed May 25  GD  Galaxy formation, the first stars and quasars, reionization

* = make-up class