Dr Craig Agnor Project Abstract(s)
All these projects are suitable for students on the Physics, Astrophysics and Theoretical Physics programmes.
BSc and MSci Review Projects
Origin and Evolution of Planetary Systems
With the expanding inventory of extrasolar planets, multiple robotic missions roaming the solar system, and the continued discovery of additional primitive bodies (e.g., near Earth asteroids, planetary satellites, Kuiper Belt objects and comets) planetary astrophysics is the fastest growing area in astronomy. The formation and evolution of planetary systems involves a wide range of physical process (e.g., stellar evolution, collisions, tidal interactions, gravitational dynamics, atmospheric evolution, geodynamics, giant collisions, orbital migration, ...etc.). In this project, the student will study a particular system of interest (e.g. the giant planets of the solar system, systems of satellites, Earth's Moon, planetary rings, planetary rings, the asteroid or Kuiper belts, or an extrasolar planetary system) conduct a critical review of the fundamental processes that best account for the origin of its properties. The student will then use analytical and numerical approaches to explore the dynamics and history of the system. The general approach utilised in this project is usually tailored to individual students. Interested students should discuss their interests with me to identify the specific system they would study and the details of an appropriate project.
Prerequites: programming background and / or an interest in numerical modeling.
MSci Fourth Year Projects
Nonlinear Dynamics in Planetary Systems
The Planetary systems exhibit nonlinear dynamics and chaos in a variety of ways. Analytic arguments and numerical experiments have shown the orbits of the solar system's planets exhibit chaotic variations, are unpredictable on timescales as short as a few million years and may be unstable to collisions between planets on timescales of a few Gyr. In this project the student will be introduced to nonlinear dynamics and the approaches used to describe chaotic systems. The student will then explore how nonlinear dynamics is expressed in planetary systems and will develop a numerical model to characterise the chaotic evolution of a satellite or planetary system of interest.
Prerequisites: Strong analytical skills, an interest in physical dynamics and numerical modelling. It is suggested that students take SPA7022 Solar System concurrently.
Origin and Evolution of Planetary Systems
With the expanding inventory of extrasolar planets, multiple robotic missions roaming the solar system, and the continued discovery of additional primitive bodies (e.g., near Earth asteroids, planetary satellites, Kuiper Belt objects and comets) planetary astrophysics is the fastest growing area in astronomy. The formation and evolution of planetary systems involves a wide range of physical process (e.g., stellar evolution, collisions, tidal interactions, gravitational dynamics, atmospheric evolution, geodynamics, giant collisions, orbital migration, ...etc.). In this project, the student will study a particular system of interest (e.g. the giant planets of the solar system, systems of satellites, Earth's Moon, planetary rings, planetary rings, the asteroid or Kuiper belts, or an extrasolar planetary system) conduct a critical review of the fundamental processes that best account for the origin of its properties. The student will then use analytical and numerical approaches to explore the dynamics and history of the system. The general approach used in this project is usually tailored to individual students. Interested students should discuss their interests with me to identify the specific system they would study and the details of an appropriate project. Note: this project differs from the third-year projects described above in the expected depth and complexity of the physical arguments and modelling utilised.
Prerequisites: Strong analytical skills, an interest in numerical modelling. It is suggested that students take SPA7022 Solar System concurrently.
