Many-Body Tree Methods in Physics

An introduction to the fast N-body algorithms used in many branches of computational physics.

Susanne Pfalzner (Author), Paul Gibbon (Author)

9780521495646, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 October 1996

184 pages, 60 b/w illus. 3 tables
26 x 18 x 2.5 cm, 0.775 kg

"The book will interest graduate students and researchers working on the modeling of systems in material science and astro, plasma, nuclear and particle, and condensed matter physics. Includes an 8-page alphabetical reference section." Optics and Photonics News

Studying the dynamics of a large number of particles interacting through long-range forces, commonly referred to as the 'N-body problem', is a central aspect of many different branches of physics. In recent years, significant advances have been made in the development of fast N-body algorithms to deal efficiently with such complex problems. This book is the first to give a thorough introduction to these so-called 'tree methods', setting out the basic principles and giving many practical examples of their use. No prior specialist knowledge is assumed, and the techniques are illustrated throughout with reference to a broad range of applications. The book will be of great interest to graduate students and researchers working on the modelling of systems in astrophysics, plasma physics, nuclear and particle physics, condensed matter physics and materials science.

1. Introduction
2. Basic structure of the hierarchical tree method
3. Open boundary problems
4. Optimisation of hierarchical tree codes
5. Periodic boundary conditions
6. Periodic boundary problems
7. The fast multipole method
Appendices.

Subject Areas: Physics [PH]