640-364 Computational Physics

Physics 640-321 or 640-341; mathematics 620-231 or 620-233; and mathematics 620-232 or 620-234.

This subject will introduce students to the use of computational techniques in the investigation of a wide class of problems in physics. Using professional computing tools, students will learn programming and a range of numerical methods commonly used in physics research and apply these techniques to the investigation of physical systems through the completion of projects.

No prior computing experience is necessary.

Four projects will be based on model problems in physics: molecular vibrations, stellar structure, quantum spin systems, large-scale magnetic systems. Students will also complete a research style project based on one of a choice of topics from the research groups within the School of Physics, including universality in the Ising model, Fourier analysis and computer-aided tomography (CAT), many electron atoms, hydrodynamics, interaction of radiation with matter, gravitational lensing by point masses, atom optics.

Techniques include differencing, root finding, quadrature; ordinary and partial differential equations; matrix eigenvalue problems; Monte Carlo methods; fast Fourier transform.

Five computer projects during semester (100%).

• S E Koonin, Computational Physics. Benjamin/Cummings.