Course Syllabus
PHYA 202 — Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Fall 2023
Course Description
This is a basic course in fluid dynamics at a graduate level which is aimed at students primarily interested in astrophysical applications. Topics include the dynamics of ideal fluids, vorticity, stability, boundary layers, turbulence and turbulent mixing , compressible flows, shocks, and self-gravitating flows. Astrophysical case studies will be drawn from astrophysical phenomena, including thin accretion disks, solar wind, turbulence in molecular clouds, supernovae, self-gravitating disks, and others. Conventional examples from common experience-i.e. induced mass, boundary layers, wakes, pipe flow, traffic flow are also discussed, with the aim of stimulating physical intuition.