Hands-on Numerical Astrophysics School for Exoplanetary Sciences

Kloster Höchst, Germany, June 25-29, 2018



Exoplanetary research depends not only on the acquisition of observational data, but also on their interpretation using models. Usually this requires the use of complex numerical calculations, and hence the deployment of computer programs to undertake these calculations.

The SPP 1992 Exploring the Diversity of Extrasolar Planets is a collaborative network of German researchers in the field of exoplanetary sciences. Its purpose is to bring together people from a varierty of subfields of exoplanetary research (formation, structure, atmospheres, dynamics of exoplanets and exoplanetary systems) and methods (observations, theory) to produce combined research that is more than the sum of its parts.

For this purpose the SPP 1992 organizes two summer schools in 2018. One is the summer school on Advanced Astronomical Observations in Tautenburg, September 20th to October 1st, 2018.

The other summer school is this one on Numerical Astrophysics for Exoplanetary Sciences.

The purpose of this school is to provide the participants practical hands-on experience with the use of several code packages to perform numerical modeling of various aspects of exoplanetary science.

The school has space for about 20 participants. PhD students and postdocs from the SPP 1992 have precedence (in that order), but if there is space left, then everyone else is also welcome.

The following topics will be covered:

  • N-body modeling of exoplanetary systems
  • Hydrodynamic modeling of planet-disk interaction and planet migration
  • Models of protoplanetary disks: structure and their long-term evolution
  • Planet interior structure modeling
  • Planet formation synthesis modeling
  • Models of exoplanetary climates and long-term evolution
  • Exoplanetary atmosphere models and transit spectroscopic retrieval

Each topic will involve 1 lecture hour and 2 hours hands-on practice with a computer code. The participants should bring a laptop with Linux or MacOSX, working C, C++ and F90 compilers, working and modern Python installation etc. Prior to the start of the school, each teacher will provide information on how to install the required software, so that no time will be lost with installation issues during the workshop itself.

Confirmed teachers: Christoph Mordasini, Nadine Nettelmann, Christoph Schaefer, Mareike Godolt, Willy Kley, Cornelis Dullemond, Paul Molliere.


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