An Introduction to Computational Physics

This advanced textbook provides an introduction to the basic methods of computational physics.

Tao Pang (Author)

9780521825696, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 January 2006

402 pages
25.4 x 19.6 x 2.4 cm, 1.034 kg

Review of the hardback: 'This is an excellent textbook for course on computational physics and scientific computation.' Zentralblatt MATH

Thoroughly revised for its second edition, this advanced textbook provides an introduction to the basic methods of computational physics, and an overview of progress in several areas of scientific computing by relying on free software available from CERN. The book begins by dealing with basic computational tools and routines, covering approximating functions, differential equations, spectral analysis, and matrix operations. Important concepts are illustrated by relevant examples at each stage. The author also discusses more advanced topics, such as molecular dynamics, modeling continuous systems, Monte Carlo methods, genetic algorithm and programming, and numerical renormalization. It includes many more exercises. This can be used as a textbook for either undergraduate or first-year graduate courses on computational physics or scientific computation. It will also be a useful reference for anyone involved in computational research.

Preface to first edition
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. Approximation of a function
3. Numerical calculus
4. Ordinary differential equations
5. Numerical methods for matrices
6. Spectral analysis
7. Partial differential equations
8. Molecular dynamics simulations
9. Modeling continuous systems
10. Monte Carlo simulations
11. Genetic algorithm and programming
12. Numerical renormalization
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Object-oriented programming [OOP UMN], Physics [PH]