Professor Darling's research deals with galaxies, massive black holes, star formation, cosmology, and dark matter. His work is mostly observational, using telescopes across the electromagnetic spectrum, but includes some theoretical work. Recent new research areas focus on 'real-time' cosmology, astrometry, tests of general relativity, detecting dark matter, measurements of physical constants with telescopes, primordial gravitational waves, and predictions of phenomena that can be observed using modern and planned telescopes.
keywords
cosmology, dark matter, physical constants, precision spectroscopy, atomic clocks in space, neutron lifetime, gravitational waves, star formation, interstellar medium, black holes, general relativity, Galactic Center, masers, gravitational lenses, high redshift, early universe, astronomical surveys, data mining, proper motion, astrometry
ASTR 2600 - Introduction to Scientific Programming
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019
Introduces principles, methods and tools of scientific programming commonly used in research. Topics include an introduction to programming in Python, data structures, numerical methods for calculus and data manipulation/visualization. Techniques covered are relevant to many technical fields but emphasis is placed on application to problems in astronomy and planetary science. Class time is split between lectures and in-lab tutorials.
ASTR 3740 - Cosmology and Relativity
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018
Special and general relativity as applied to astrophysics, cosmological models, observational cosmology, experimental relativity and the early universe. Elective for APS major and minor.
ASTR 3800 - Introduction to Scientific Data Analysis and Computing
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020
Introduces scientific data analysis from a practical perspective. Covers statistical analysis, model fitting, error analysis, theoretical compliance and image analysis with examples from space-based and ground-based astronomy. Elective for APS major. Opened to qualified non-majors with instructor consent.
ASTR 5110 - Atomic and Molecular Processes
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2021
Explores the application of quantum physics and statistical mechanics to problems in astrophysics, space physics and planetary science, with an emphasis on radiative processes and spectroscopy of atoms and molecules.
