Computational astrophysics

Computational astrophysics uses numerical methods and computer simulations to model astrophysical systems and investigate astronomical phenomena.

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Numerical simulation: A computer-based approximation of a system’s behavior using discretized equations or rules. Astrophysical simulations approximate continuous physical processes on finite computational grids or particles.
Galaxy formation: The processes through which galaxies assemble and evolve from gas, stars, and dark matter. Simulations trace how gravity, gas cooling, and stellar feedback build galaxies.
Numerical analysis: The study of algorithms for obtaining approximate solutions to mathematical problems. It explains accuracy, stability, and error in computations of physical systems.
Observational astronomy: The study of celestial objects and phenomena through measurements of their emitted or reflected signals. Observations constrain simulations, while simulations test interpretations of those measurements.
Hydrodynamics: The study of fluids in motion and the forces acting on them. Fluid equations model gas flows in stars, accretion disks, and cosmic structure.
Cosmological simulation: A numerical model of cosmic structure formation within an expanding universe. It follows matter from early-universe fluctuations to galaxies and clusters.
General relativity: Einstein’s theory describing gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by energy and matter. Relativistic simulations are needed near black holes and in compact-object mergers.
Theoretical astrophysics: The use of physical theory and mathematical reasoning to explain astronomical phenomena. Analytical theory often simplifies systems that computational models represent in greater detail.
N-body simulation: A numerical method for calculating the motion of many mutually interacting bodies. It models gravitational systems such as star clusters and dark-matter halos.
Stellar evolution: The changes in a star’s structure and properties over its lifetime. Numerical models predict stellar interiors and evolutionary stages.