This research field develops and uses advanced computer models to study complex astrophysical processes.

Computational astrophysics is a central part of modern astronomical research. The conditions of astrophysical environments (stars, galaxies, the space between them) are impossible to recreate in the laboratory and are often too complex to describe with simple mathematical models. By constructing advanced computer models of the essential physical processes, we can better interpret observational results and improve our understanding of the inner workings of astrophysical environments. In this sense computational astrophysics can be seen as the experimental branch of these astronomical research. The ever-increasing power of computers allow us to perform ever more detailed simulations of complex astronomical phenomena.

At the Department of Astronomy, the development of computational tools spans research areas from solar physics to cosmology. We specialize in the development of such tools for gas dynamics (with and without magnetic fields) and radiative transfer. Simulations using these computer models are typically run on parallel systems and supercomputers.