Numerical Project
I got some feedback regarding the numerical project and would like to provide some clarifications:
1) The file AST4320_NumericalProject.pdf is the main project description for the tasks you need to do, and the file AST4320_NumericalProjectnotes.pdf is a document in case you need some help on linux commands, halo finders and the pynbody analysis code, etc. The second file does not contains tasks or assignments, it is served as a "reference guide" if you need help. By design, there is no one-to-one correspondence between the items on the two files. However, please do read both files carefully to understand how to use the simulation code, IC generators, halo finder softwares, and pynbody. For example, the location of the user manual for MUSIC IC generator is in /mn/stornext/u3/robertwi/AST4320test, which contains a detailed explanation of what each parameter means in the parameter file, how to run the code etc.
2) In AST4320_NumericalProject.pdf, the sentence "Check the user manual for MUSIC (in the same AST4320_Project2)..." is inaccurate, the folder should be AST4320test, rather than AST4320_Project2. Sorry if this mistake has caused confusion.
3) The project is meant for you to understand, at a basic level, the physics of IC generation from the initial power spectrum, N-body simulations, and how simulation data would look like and how to analyse them. Therefore, in many tasks you need to figure out some things yourself, such as which parameters to use, where are certain quantities in the output, how the data structure looks like. It defeats the purpose of the project if I or the group teacher write the exact script and you can just hit the button and run. The helping note contains a large amount of information on using the softwares and understand the data structure (e.g. how to find redshift in an output file). If you have any questions, please come to the group session or, if you don't have the time, write an email to one of us, or just drop by our offices, or use the discourse platform.
4) After talking with Robert and reading some of your feedback, I become aware of that many of you are not familiar with basic Unix/Linux commands, for example copying files. You can find many online materials and tutorials for linux usage (for example this one https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/linux-commands, Stackoverflow is also a good place). Please also read the help file AST4320_NumericalProjectnotes.pdf for how to login to the system. N.B.: Linux commands are case sensitive, and it is usually not okay to copy and paste something from a PDF file to a terminal window.
5) To facilitate the discussion for people who cannot participate the group session, we will open a discourse account for this course and you can post your questions there, such that all others can benefit from it too. This is a very good suggestion. Nevertheless, in general you are supposed to come to the group sessions and work on your assignments and project there.
6) I have copied the MUSIC user guide in the Google Drive so that you do not need to download it from the system.
Sijing