A Survey of Computational Physics

Introductory Computational Science

Rubin Landau, José Páez, Cristian C. Bordeianu

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Year: 2011
• ISBN:
  9781400841189
• Topic: Ciencias físicas
• Subtopic: Física

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

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• 1 Computational Science Basics
• 2 Errors & Uncertainties in Computations
• 3 Visualization Tools
• 4 Object-Oriented Programs: Impedance & Batons
• 5 Monte Carlo Simulations (Nonthermal)
• 6 Integration
• 7 Differentiation & Searching
• 8 Solving Systems of Equations with Matrices; Data Fitting
• 9 Differential Equation Applications
• 10 Fourier Analysis: Signals and Filters
• 11 Wavelet Analysis & Data Compression
• 12 Discrete & Continuous Nonlinear Dynamics
• 13 Fractals & Statistical Growth
• 14 High-Performance Computing Hardware, Tuning, and Parallel Computing
• 15 Thermodynamic Simulations & Feynman Quantum Path Integration
• 16 Simulating Matter with Molecular Dynamics
• 17 PDEs for Electrostatics & Heat Flow
• 18 PDE Waves: String, Quantum Packet, and E&M
• 19 Solitons & Computational Fluid Dynamics
• 20 Integral Equations in Quantum Mechanics
• Appendix A: Glossary
• Appendix B: Installing Packages
• Appendix C: OpenDX: Industrial-Strength Data Visualization
• Appendix D: An MPI Tutorial
• Appendix E: Calling LAPAC K from C
• Appendix F: Software on the CD
• Bibliography
• Index