Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics


Faculty List

Professor and Interim Director
P.G. Martin, BSc, MSc, PhD, OC, FRSC, FRCGS

Professors
J.R. Bond, OC, MS, PhD, FRSC, FRS
R. Essick, BSc, PhD
M. Fishbach, BSc, PhD
N.W. Murray, BSc, PhD, FRSC
U-L. Pen, MSc, PhD, FRSC
B. Ripperda, BSc, MSc, PhD
A.C. Thompson, BSc, PhD

Introduction

The Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) is an incorporated national institute hosted by the University of Toronto, conducting research covering all of modern astrophysical theory and analysis during this remarkable age of cosmic discovery. CITA has firmly established itself as one of the top five places in the world for such research; despite its small size CITA has had a large impact on the worldwide astrophysics community. Research at CITA is carried out by about 20 research fellows, 20 graduate students, and a limited number of undergraduate students, all supervised by full-time faculty members.

Where do elements, planets, solar systems, stars, galaxies, the Universe, and life, come from? Questions like these fascinate everyone. Theorists at CITA analyze, interpret, and explain the astronomical observations that illuminate such questions, using laboratory-tested physical laws, or as recently seen, new physical laws that the observations require but which laboratory experiments have not been able, so far, to detect. The observational data are supplied by the recent and ongoing explosion in astronomical hardware, including CHIME, ARO, ALMA, the Hubble space telescope, x-ray, infrared, and ultra-violet space telescopes, and a host of others.

CITA courses are designed for students interested in doing undergraduate research in theoretical astrophysics, and are appropriate for computer science, engineering science, physical sciences and astronomy program students.

CITA works closely with two related academic units, the Department of Physics and the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (DADDAA). These departments conduct research in a broad range of fields. Undergraduate and graduate students will find diverse research opportunities through CITA and these two cognate units.

For enquiries about CITA's programming in theoretical astrophysics, please contact the Interim Director, Peter Martin: pgmartin@cita.utoronto.ca

Undergraduate Enquiries: murray@cita.utoronto.ca (416-978-1778)

Website: http://www.cita.utoronto.ca


Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics Courses

CTA200H1 - Computational Astrophysics

Hours: 24L/12T

Research in theoretical astrophysics encompasses cosmology, galaxy formation and black holes. This course introduces students to modern computational techniques using large scale parallel numerical simulations, carried out at CITA and SciNet. This is an intensive two-week course taught in May.

Prerequisite: MAT135Y1/ MAT137Y1/ MAT157Y1; ( PHY131H1, PHY132H1)/( PHY151H1, PHY152H1) or their equivalent.
Recommended Preparation: Physical science, mathematics and computation, or engineering
Breadth Requirements: The Physical and Mathematical Universes (5)

CTA299Y1 - Research Opportunity Program

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/academics/research-opportunities/research-opportunities-program. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Prerequisite: MAT135Y1/ MAT137Y1/ MAT157Y1; ( PHY131H1, PHY132H1)/( PHY151H1, PHY152H1) or their equivalent
Recommended Preparation: Physical science, mathematics and computation, or engineering
Breadth Requirements: The Physical and Mathematical Universes (5)

CTA395Y1 - Research Topic

Course credit for research under the supervision of a faculty member. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Prerequisite: Minimum 8.5 credits and no more than 14.0 credits, including courses in AST, CTA200H1, or permission

CTA396Y0 - Research Topic Abroad

Course credit for research or field studies abroad under the supervision of a faculty member. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Prerequisite: Minimum 8.5 credits and no more than 14.0 credits including courses in AST, CTA200H1, or permission of the instructor
Recommended Preparation: Physical science, mathematics and computation, or engineering
Breadth Requirements: The Physical and Mathematical Universes (5)

CTA398Y0 - Research Excursions

An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/academics/research-opportunities/research-excursions-program. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

CTA399Y1 - Research Opportunity Program

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/academics/research-opportunities/research-opportunities-program. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

CTA495Y1 - Independent Topics in Astrophysics

A research project done in consultation with an individual staff member in the Institute leading to a detailed written report and oral presentation. This course is intended primarily for students in the final year of the Astronomy and Physics specialist program, although it is available to students in Engineering Science, Computer Science, or Mathematics. Students must enroll with the Undergraduate Secretary, Prof. Pen. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Prerequisite: 1.0 credit from: PHY324H1, PHY350H1, PHY354H1, PHY356H1, PHY357H1, PHY358H1, PHY395H1, PHY404H1, PHY408H1, AST325H1/ AST326Y1, or similar courses in Engineering Science or Mathematics.
Recommended Preparation: Physical science, mathematics and computation, or engineering
Breadth Requirements: The Physical and Mathematical Universes (5)

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