' PY 502, Computational Physics

PY 502, Computational Physics, Fall 2026

Department of Physics, Boston University

Instructor: Anders Sandvik

Lectures: Tuesdays, Thursdays 5:00-6:15 PM, in SCI B58
Discussion meetings, Fridays 2:30-3:20 PM, in PRB 148
Office hours: Wednesdays 2:30-3:30 PM and Fridays 3:30-4:30 PM in SCI 450A

This course introduces some of the most widely used methods of computational physics, including numerical solutions of differential equations (initial and boundary value problems) in classical and quantum mechanics, Monte Carlo simulations, and numerical solutions of quantum many-body models (statics and dynamics of interacting spins or qubits). Beyond providing a basic working knowledge of these particular techniques, the goal is to create the foundations for ``computational thinking''---the ability to create models of physical phenomena and devise suitable numerical methods to study their properties. The Julia programming languages will be used---the first few lectures will introduce the language. The full syllabus is available here.

Course News

Homework assignment #1 posted, due Sep 22.

Lecture Notes and Program Examples

0) Course Introduction
     Lecture slides: [Sep 3]
1) Introduction to the Julia programming language [Program examples]
     Lecture slides: [Sep 3]

Materials for (some) discussion meetings

[Sep 4]

Homework assignments

1) Due: Sep 22 [Problem text] [Solutions]

Online Julia resources

Home page of the Julia language; download, documentation
Julia Express; brief introduction to the Julia language

Other resources

[color2d.f90] 2D plot program (Fortran)