Academic Team

Course Content

Get ready to dive into one of the most dynamic frontiers of modern astrophysics: how stars and planets are born. This course gives you the theoretical and observational tools you need to decode the physics shaping everything from collapsing molecular clouds to fully fledged planetary systems.

We’ll start by exploring the core physics of star formation: the Jeans mass, the influence of magnetic fields, and the chaotic role of turbulence in shaping stellar nurseries. We then connect theory to observations, using data on pre–main-sequence stars and protoplanetary discs to place young stars on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram and to construct and interpret their spectral energy distributions.

From there, we zoom in on dust grains and gas in the interstellar medium—tiny players with huge importance—before moving into the terrain of planet formation and planet–disc interactions, supported by cutting-edge high-resolution observations. We will study exoplanet detection techniques, compare the diverse properties of known exoplanets, and finish by stepping into the interdisciplinary world of astrobiology.

To ground theory in practice, you’ll participate in two hands-on sessions: one focused on photometric classification of stars in young clusters, and one examining how disc parameters—such as mass, inner radius, or stellar temperature—shape the appearance of protoplanetary discs.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a solid understanding of the key physics, techniques, and remaining mysteries in star and planet formation—plus the analytical tools needed to explore this rapidly evolving field on your own.

List of topics

• The ISM and giant molecular clouds
• The collapse of a cloud and the formation of protostars
• T Tauri stars and Herbig Ae/Be stars
• Accretion processes
• Disc evolution and planet formation
• Planet-disc interaction
• Debris discs
• The Solar System
• Exoplanets (discovery and properties)
• Astrobiology

Reading List

• An introduction to Star Formation – Derk Ward-Thompson & Antony  Whitworth
• The formation of stars – Steven Stahler and Francesco Palla

Teaching Plan Information

Course Schedule

Academic Team

Course Content

Type: Optional Course · AC Track · 3rd Trimester

This course provides the theoretical and practical foundations to model astrophysical phenomena using numerical simulations. Students will be introduced to the principles of computational astrophysics and high-performance computing, gaining proficiency in scientific programming and the use of advanced numerical techniques.

The programme covers numerical integration methods, the solution of ordinary and partial differential equations, and their application to key physical processes: gravitational dynamics, N-body systems, (magneto-)hydrodynamics, and gas dynamics. Both Eulerian and Lagrangian approaches are presented in detail, including state-of-the-art algorithms such as Particle-Mesh (PM), Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR), Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), tree codes, and hybrid schemes (treePM, P³M).

Hands-on exercises form an integral part of the course. Students will work on small programming assignments—ranging from visualising the Mandelbrot set to implementing integration schemes for gravitational two-body systems, and developing a 1D SPH code for gas dynamics. A final project allows participants to either build a tailored simulation tool or employ a professional astrophysical code to investigate systems such as planetary configurations, stellar clusters, or galaxy formation.

By the end of the course, students will not only master the computational methods at the core of modern astrophysics but also acquire the skills needed to run and analyse large-scale simulations on high-performance computing systems, preparing them for research in both theoretical and observational contexts.

Reading List

• Galaxy Formation and Evolution. Mo, Van den Bosch, White, Cambridge University Press, 2010
• Galaxy Formation Theory, A. Benson, Physics Reports, 2010,
• Galaxy Formation and Evolution. H. Spinrad, 2010, Springer Books.
• The road to galaxy formation. W. Keel, 2010, Springer Books.
• Galaxy Formation, M. Longair, Springer. 2007
• Structure Formation in the Universe, S. Padmanabhan, Cambridge

Teaching Plan Information

Course Schedule

Academic Team

Course Content

Type: Optional– AC Track – 3rd Trimester

This course provides the theoretical and practical foundations to model astrophysical phenomena using numerical simulations. Students will be introduced to the principles of computational astrophysics and high-performance computing, gaining proficiency in scientific programming and the use of advanced numerical techniques.

The programme covers numerical integration methods, the solution of ordinary and partial differential equations, and their application to key physical processes: gravitational dynamics, N-body systems, (magneto-)hydrodynamics, and gas dynamics. Both Eulerian and Lagrangian approaches are presented in detail, including state-of-the-art algorithms such as Particle-Mesh (PM), Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR), Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), tree codes, and hybrid schemes (treePM, P³M).

Hands-on exercises form an integral part of the course. Students will work on small programming assignments—ranging from visualising the Mandelbrot set to implementing integration schemes for gravitational two-body systems, and developing a 1D SPH code for gas dynamics. A final project allows participants to either build a tailored simulation tool or employ a professional astrophysical code to investigate systems such as planetary configurations, stellar clusters, or galaxy formation.

By the end of the course, students will not only master the computational methods at the core of modern astrophysics but also acquire the skills needed to run and analyse large-scale simulations on high-performance computing systems, preparing them for research in both theoretical and observational contexts.

Reading List

• Numerical Recipes: The Art of Scientific Computing. Cambridge Univ. Press. Book available online
• Gravitational N-body Simulations. S. Aarseth. Cambridge Univ Press.
• Computer Simulations using Particles. Hockney & Eastwood.
• Riemann Solvers and Numerical Mtehods for Flui Dyamics. E. Toro Book available online.
• Análisis Numérico con Aplicaciones. C.F. Gerald y P.O. Wheatley. Editorial Addison-Wesley.
• Análisis Numérico. R.L. Burden, J. Douglas Faires. Editorial International Thomson Editores.
• Cálculo Numérico.B. Carnahan, H.A. Luther y J.O. Wilkes. Editorial Rueda.
• Elementary Numerical Analysis. Kendall Atkinson. John Wiley and Sons.
• Computational Gas Dyanamics. C. B. Laney. Cambridge Univ. Press.
• Computational Methods for Astrophysical Fluid Flows. Le Veque, et al. Springer-Verlag.
• Gravitational N-body Problem. M. Lecar. Kluwer.
• Numerical Methods in Astrophysics. Bodenheimer. Taylor & Francis

Teaching Plan Information

Course Schedule