PY 502, Computational Physics (Fall 2006)

Department of Physics, Boston University

Instructor: Anders Sandvik

Lectures: Tuesday, Thursday 11 - 12:30, in CAS 327
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday 11 - 12, in SCI 317
Computer lab (CAS 327) reserved for practice Fridays 1-3 PM (TF prsent 1-2)
TF: Ling Wang (office SCI 270)

This course provides an introduction to some of the most widely used methods of computational physics, including numerical integration (elementary algorithms and Monte Carlo techniques), numerical solutions of differential equations (classical equations of motion, time independent and time dependent Schrodinger equations), molecular dynamics simulations (liquids and gases), Monte Carlo simulations (classical models of magnetism), and exact diagonalization of quantum many-body Hamiltonians (models of quantum magnetism). In addition to giving the students a basic working knowledge of these particular techniques, the goal is to make them proficient in scientific computing and programming in general, so that they will be prepared to tackle also other computational problem that they may encounter in the future. The Fortran 90 programming language will be used. The full syllabus is available here.

Course News

Take-home exam will be handed out on Tuesday 12/5; due on 12/12.

Input files for take-home exam: [L=4 lattice] [L=10 lattice] [L=20 lattice]

Lecture Notes, Programs, and Lecture Presentations

0) Course outline [Lecture presentation ]
1) Introduction to the Fortran 90 Programming Language [Notes] [Programs] [Lectures (htm)]
2) Numerical Integration (including Monte Carlo Integration) [Notes] [Programs] [Lectures (htm)
3) Classical dynamics; solving equations of motion [Notes] [Programs] [Lectures (htm)
4) Quantum mechanics; solving the Schrodinger equation [Notes] [Programs]
[Lectures 1 (htm)]
[Lectures 2 (htm)] [Lectures 2 (pdf)] [Lectures 2 (mov)]
[Lectures 3 (htm)] [Lectures 3 (mov)]
5) Monte Carlo simulations in statistical physics [Notes] [Programs]
[Lectures 1 (htm)] [Lectures 1 (mov)]
[Lectures 2 (pdf)] [Lectures 2 (mov)]
6) Exact diagonalization of quantum spin models [Notes] [Programs] [Lectures (htm)]

Homework assignments

1) Due: Thursday, 9/21/06. [Problem text] [Supplied data set] [Solutions]
2) Due: Tuesday, 10/3/06. [Problem text] [Solutions]
3) Due: Tuesday, 10/17/06. [Problem text] [Solutions]
4) Due: Tuesday, 10/31/06. [Problem text] [Solutions]
5) Due: Thursday, 11/16/06. [Problem text] [Solutions]
6) Due: Thursday, 11/30/06. [Problem text]

Graphics and animation tools

[User's guide for Xmgrace graphing program]
[2D color intensity plot program]
[Tutorial on the PostScript language]
[File conversion and animation with ImageMagick]

Updated Dec. 10, 2006