Search result: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2021

Earth Sciences Master Information
Major in Geophysics
Compulsory Modules Geophysics
Geophysics: Methods I
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
651-4096-00LInverse Theory I: BasicsO3 credits2VA. Fichtner
AbstractInverse theory is the art of inferring properties of a physical system from noisy and sparse observations. It is used to transform observations of waves into 3D images of a medium seismic tomography, medical imaging and material science; to constrain density in the Earth from gravity; to obtain probabilities of life on exoplanets ... . Inverse theory is at the heart of many natural sciences.
ObjectiveThe goal of this course is to enable students to develop a mathematical formulation of specific inference (inverse) problems that may arise anywhere in the physical sciences, and to implement suitable solution methods. Furthermore, students should become aware that nearly all relevant inverse problems are ill-posed, and that their meaningful solution requires the addition of prior knowledge in the form of expertise and physical intuition. This is what makes inverse theory an art.
ContentThis first of two courses covers the basics needed to address (and hopefully solve) any kind of inverse problem. Starting from the description of information in terms of probabilities, we will derive Bayes' Theorem, which forms the mathematical foundation of modern scientific inference. This will allow us to formalise the process of gaining information about a physical system using new observations. Following the conceptual part of the course, we will focus on practical solutions of inverse problems, which will lead us to study Monte Carlo methods and the special case of least-squares inversion.

In more detail, we aim to cover the following main topics:

1. The nature of observations and physical model parameters
2. Representing information by probabilities
3. Bayes' theorem and mathematical scientific inference
4. Random walks and Monte Carlo Methods
5. The Metropolis-Hastings algorithm
6. Simulated Annealing
7. Linear inverse problems and the least-squares method
8. Resolution and the nullspace
9. Basic concepts of iterative nonlinear inversion methods

While the concepts introduced in this course are universal, they will be illustrated with numerous simple and intuitive examples. These will be complemented with a collection of computer and programming exercises.

Prerequisites for this course include (i) basic knowledge of analysis and linear algebra, (ii) basic programming skills, for instance in Matlab or Python, and (iii) scientific curiosity.
Lecture notesPresentation slides and detailed lecture notes will be provided.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is offered as a half-semester course during the first part of the semester
Geophysical Methods II
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
651-4013-00LPotential Field TheoryO3 credits2GA. Khan
AbstractThe course will guide students in learning about the capabilities and limitations of potential field data, namely gravity and magnetic measurements as collected by industry, in determining geological sources.
It will follow a mathematical approach, and students will learn to apply mathematical strategies to generate quantitative answers to geophysical questions.
ObjectiveThe course will guide students in learning about the capabilities and limitations of potential field data, namely gravity and magnetic measurements as collected by industry, in determining geological sources.
It will follow a mathematical approach, and students will learn to apply mathematical strategies to generate quantitative answers to geophysical questions.
ContentPart I:
Concept of work & energy, conservative fields, the Newtonian potential, Laplace's and Poisson's equation, solutions in Cartesian/spherical geometry, the Geoid, gravity instrumentation, field data processing, depth rules for isolated bodies, Fourier methods.
Part II:
Magnetic potential, dipole and current loops, distributed magnetization, remanent and induced magnetization, nonuniqueness & ``annihilators'', field data processing, magnetic instrumentation, anomalies from total field data, reduction to the pole, statistical methods.
Part III:
Applicability to DC electrical methods: resistivity sounding.
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisite: Successful completion of 651-4130-00 Mathematical Methods
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