Byrne Seminar: Radio Astronomy: Jersey Roots, Global Reach
Fall 2012

Instructor Prof. Andrew Baker Serin W309 Phone: 732-445-5500 x2544 Email: ajbaker[at]physics.rutgers.edu Office hours: Thursday 1:40-3:00 (or by appointment) Venue W (1:40-4:40) in Serin 401

Textbook
The only required textbook is The Invisible Universe: The Story of Radio Astronomy by Gerrit Verschuur, copies of which should be available in the bookstore.

Overview
Here's the official course catalog listing:
"Just like Rutgers, the field of radio astronomy - the investigation of the universe and its contents through observations of radio waves - has 'Jersey Roots, Global Reach.' This seminar will introduce students to the history of radio astronomy in New Jersey, which includes the construction of the first radio telescope and the discovery of the cosmic microwave background (i.e., the afterglow of the Big Bang). Students will also learn about the scientific and technical advances made by modern radio astronomers, and will obtain and analyze their own observations of atomic hydrogen gas in the Milky Way using an on-campus telescope."

Schedule
The first class (September 5, featuring an introduction to the field of radio astronomy) and the last class (October 31, focusing on the results of the observing project) will only run from 1:40-3:00pm. The four classes in between will run for a double period (1:40-4:40pm with a 10-minute break midway through). During each of these four classes, we will discuss four chapters from the textbook. At the beginning of the semester, one student will be assigned to lead the discussion of each chapter. Four students drawn at random (Alexandria, Ben, Claire, Robel) will also serve as "observing assistants" who organize the acquisition and analysis of data for the observing project.

CLASS	DATE	TEXT	LEAD
1	Sep 5
2/3	Sep 19	Chapter 1	Ashley
		Chapter 2	Tim'
		Chapter 3	Tim
		Chapter 4	Asad
4/5	Oct 10	Chapter 5	Matt
		Chapter 6	Kung
		Chapter 7	Amanda
		Chapter 8	Roelle
6/7	Oct 17	Chapter 9	Phil
		Chapter 10	Ryan
		Chapter 11	Clare
		Chapter 12	Ben
8/9	Oct 24	Chapter 13	Alexandria
		Chapter 14	Robel
		Chapter 15	Roelle
		Chapter 16	Amanda
10	Oct 31

Grading
Your course grade will be based on a combination of two elements:

• active participation in all class discussions (50%)
• leadership of your assigned discussion, or contribution to the observing project (50%)

• summarizing the most important points of the reading
• articulating questions about the reading (e.g., what does a particular technical term mean? why does the author make such a big deal about some seemingly minor point?)
• suggesting open-ended questions for class discussion that are inspired by the reading (e.g., what was the most important factor in a particular discovery? does scientific progress follow the scientific method, or is it more a series of accidents?)

Other items

• Absences
  If you need to miss a class, you should report your absence at this website.
• Students with disabilities
  If you have a disability, let me know early in the semester so that we can make the necessary arrangements for you to have a successful learning experience. Please consult this web page for more details.