This pathway is recommended for those particularly interested in modeling, especially numerical, of astrophysical sources or basic physical processes. The main topics for a potential thesis in this field include plasma physics (especially in the solar wind, even at the kinetic level), relativistic astrophysics, the study of compact objects (neutron stars and black holes), multi-messenger astrophysics (photons, cosmic rays, neutrinos, and gravitational waves), high-energy radiative processes, particle acceleration mechanisms, and cosmology, particularly the evolution of the first stars and first galaxies, and stellar archaeology.

The Theoretical Astrophysics pathway naturally fits within the Astrophysics curriculum, and the rules must be followed when preparing the study plan. Below are some recommendations for choosing core, supplementary/integrative, and elective astrophysical courses for this pathway.

For further information on research areas related to the Theoretical Astrophysics pathway and for thesis requests, please refer to the following groups:

High Energy Astrophysics

Space and Astrophysical Plasmas

First Stars and First Galaxies