Computers are one of the most important tools available to physicists, whether for calculating and displaying results, simulating experiments, or solving complex systems of equations. Introducing students to computational physics, this textbook, first published in 2006, shows how to use computers to solve mathematical problems in physics and teaches students about choosing different numerical approaches. It also introduces students to many of the programs and packages available. The book relies solely on free software: the operating system chosen is Linux, which comes with an excellent C++ compiler, and the graphical interface is the ROOT package available for free from CERN. This broad scope textbook is suitable for undergraduates starting on computational physics courses. It includes exercises and many examples of programs. Online resources at www.cambridge.org/0521828627 feature additional reference information, solutions, and updates on new techniques, software and hardware used in physics.
Computational physics is a rapidly growing subfield of computational science, in large part because computers can solve previously intractable problems or simulate natural processes that do not have analytic solutions. The next step beyond Landau's First Course in Scientific Computing and a follow-up to Landau and Páez's Computational Physics, this text presents a broad survey of key topics in computational physics for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students, including new discussions of visualization tools, wavelet analysis, molecular dynamics, and computational fluid dynamics. By treating science, applied mathematics, and computer science together, the book reveals how this knowledge base can be applied to a wider range of real-world problems than computational physics texts normally address. Designed for a one- or two-semester course, A Survey of Computational Physics will also interest anyone who wants a reference on or practical experience in the basics of computational physics. Accessible to advanced undergraduates Real-world problem-solving approach Java codes and applets integrated with text Companion Web site includes videos of lectures
This is an introductory textbook on computational methods and techniques intended for undergraduates at the sophomore or junior level in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering. It provides an introduction to programming languages such as FORTRAN 90/95/2000 and covers numerical techniques such as differentiation, integration, root finding, and data fitting. The textbook also entails the use of the Linux/Unix operating system and other relevant software such as plotting programs, text editors, and mark up languages such as LaTeX. It includes multiple homework assignments.
Personal Computers Have Become An Essential Part Of The Physics Curricula And Is Becoming An Increasingly Important Tool In The Training Of Students. The Present Book Is An Effort To Provide A Quality And Classroom Tested Resource Material.Salient Features * Topics Have Been Carefully Selected To Give A Flavour Of Computational Techniques In The Context Of A Wide Range Of Physics Problems. * Style Of Presentation Emphasis The Pedagogic Approach, Assuming No Previous Knowledge Of Either Programming In High-Level Language Or Numerical Techniques. * Profusely Illustrated With Diagrams, Graphic Outputs, Programming Hints, Algorithms And Source Codes. * Ideally Suited For Self-Study With A Pc On Desktop. * Accompanied With A Cd Rom With Source Codes Of Selected Problems Saving The User From Typing In The Source Code. * Can Be Adopted As A Two-Semester Course In Universities Running Courses Such As Computer Applications In Physics, Numerical Methods In Physics Or As An Additional Optional Paper In Nodal Centres Of Computer Applications Provided By Ugc In Different Universities. * Meets The Requirements Of Students Of Physics At Undergraduate And Post-Graduate Level In Particular And Physical Sciences, Engineering And Mathematics Students In General.This Book Is An Outcome Of A Book Project Granted By University Grants Commission New Delhi (India).
This monograph presents fundamental aspects of modern spectral and other computational methods, which are not generally taught in traditional courses. It emphasizes concepts as errors, convergence, stability, order and efficiency applied to the solution of physical problems. The spectral methods consist in expanding the function to be calculated into a set of appropriate basis functions (generally orthogonal polynomials) and the respective expansion coefficients are obtained via collocation equations. The main advantage of these methods is that they simultaneously take into account all available information, rather only the information available at a limited number of mesh points. They require more complicated matrix equations than those obtained in finite difference methods. However, the elegance, speed, and accuracy of the spectral methods more than compensates for any such drawbacks. During the course of the monograph, the authors examine the usually rapid convergence of the spectral expansions and the improved accuracy that results when nonequispaced support points are used, in contrast to the equispaced points used in finite difference methods. In particular, they demonstrate the enhanced accuracy obtained in the solutionof integral equations. The monograph includes an informative introduction to old and new computational methods with numerous practical examples, while at the same time pointing out the errors that each of the available algorithms introduces into the specific solution. It is a valuable resource for undergraduate students as an introduction to the field and for graduate students wishing to compare the available computational methods. In addition, the work develops the criteria required for students to select the most suitable method to solve the particular scientific problem that they are confronting.
This book is an introduction to the computational methods used in physics, but also in other scientific fields. It is addressed to an audience that has already been exposed to the introductory level of college physics, usually taught during the first two years of an undergraduate program in science and engineering. It assumes no prior knowledge of numerical analysis, programming or computers and teaches whatever is necessary for the solution of the problems addressed in the text. It can be used as a textbook in introductory computational physics or scientific computing classes. The book starts with very simple problems in particle motion and ends with an in-depth discussion of advanced techniques used in Monte Carlo simulations in statistical mechanics. The level of instruction rises slowly, while discussing problems like the diffusion equation, electrostatics on the plane, quantum mechanics and random walks. All the material can be taught in two semesters, but a selection of topics can form the material of a one semester course. The book aims to provide the students with the background and the experience needed in order to advance to high performance computing projects in science and engineering. It puts emphasis on hands--on programming of numerical code but also on the production, analysis and interpretation of data. But it also tries to keep the students motivated by considering interesting applications in physics, like chaos, quantum mechanics, special relativity and the physics of phase transitions. There is a C++ and a Fortran edition for the core programming. Data analysis is performed using the powerful tools of the GNU/Linux environment. All the necessary software is open source and freely available. The book and the accompanying software are given under a Creative Commons License/GNU public License as a service to the community. It can be used freely as a whole, or any part of it, in any form, by anyone. There is no official distribution of hard copies, but you can use the printing service of your preference in order produce any number of copies you need for you and/or your students. For the lazy ones, a very nice and cheap paperback can be purchaced from lulu.com, amazon.com and conventional bookstores. The ebook can be read in most electronic devices like your PC, tablet or favorite ebook reader and it is freely available from the book's website.
Eine gut verständliche Einführung in moderne naturwissenschaftliche Rechenmethoden! Nur geringe physikalische Vorkenntnisse voraussetzend, vermittelt der Autor Grundlagen und komplexere Ansätze anhand vieler Beispiele und ausgesprochen praxisnaher Übungsaufgaben. Besprochen werden alle Rechenmethoden, die im Grundstudium erlernt werden sollen, hinsichtlich ihrer Leistungsfähigkeit und ihrer Anwendungsgebiete.
Computers and computation are extremely important components of physics and should be integral parts of a physicist’s education. Furthermore, computational physics is reshaping the way calculations are made in all areas of physics. Intended for the physics and engineering students who have completed the introductory physics course, A First Course in Computational Physics, Second Edition covers the different types of computational problems using MATLAB with exercises developed around problems of physical interest. Topics such as root finding, Newton-Cotes integration, and ordinary differential equations are included and presented in the context of physics problems. A few topics rarely seen at this level such as computerized tomography, are also included. Within each chapter, the student is led from relatively elementary problems and simple numerical approaches through derivations of more complex and sophisticated methods, often culminating in the solution to problems of significant difficulty. The goal is to demonstrate how numerical methods are used to solve the problems that physicists face. Read the review published in Computing in Science & Engineering magazine, March/April 2011 (Vol. 13, No. 2) ? 2011 IEEE, Published by the IEEE Computer Society
