AST5240 – Bayesian Cosmological Data Analysis
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This?course provides an overview of radio and microwave astronomy and observations in modern cosmology. It provides thorough training in Bayesian data analysis with cosmological applications, emphasizing observations of the cosmic background radiation.
Learning outcome
After completing this?course you:
- will have basic knowledge of the physical processes of radio and microwave radiation from the Milky Way and other galaxies.
- will have knowledge of modern methods for cosmological data analysis, including Bayesian parameter estimation.
- you will have an overview of relevant data sets for the analysis of cosmic background radiation and other cosmological signals, including COMAP, PASIPHAE, Planck, SPIDER, WMAP, DIRBE, etc.
- you will know how to use the Commander software package to analyze observations of the cosmic background radiation.
Admission to the course
Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
A maximum of 15 students per year. If the course has limited capacity, applicants from INTPART institutions in the Global Component Separation Network and students who have the course in their study plan at UiO will be given priority. It will not be possible to enroll in the course after teaching has started.?Based on experience, there is generally room for everyone who applies for admission to the course within the deadline.
Recommended previous knowledge
- Bachelor’s Degree from the programme Fysikk og astronomi (bachelor)
- AST3220 – Cosmology I
- AST5220 – Cosmology II
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with AST9240 – Cosmological Component Separation.
Teaching
This is an intensive course with lectures and student-active group exercises. The course will last for two weeks with 20 hours of lectures and the rest of the time will consist of project work. During the project work; the student?will be?required to?reproduce a known component separation case.?
Teaching will take place during the last two?weeks of August in the autumn semester. It will not be possible to sign up for classes once teaching has started. Students are expected to give an oral presentation of the project work at the end of the second week of the course. Students are also to submit a written report two weeks after completion of the course.
It is compulsory to attend all teaching activities in this course in order to pass the course.
Examination
During the course period, the student will prepare a major project assignment, which?counts 100 % in the grade assessment. Students can choose whether they want to work on the project individually or in groups.?Results from the project assignment will first be presented orally at the end of the course period. Two weeks after completing the course, students must also?submit a written report of the project assignment, which will be in the form of a home exam. The final grade is determined by an assessment of the project assignment.
It is compulsory to attend all teaching activities?in this course in order to pass the course.
Examination support material
All support material is allowed during work with the project assignment and the home exam.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
There is no postponed?examination?in case of illness or the like. If?sickness?or another valid reason prevents the student from completing the examination, this must be documented with a valid medical certificate or similar before the end of the?course. The institute can?determine?whether?a deffered?submission and oral presentation can be granted.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.