PY 502, Computational Physics (Fall 2011)

Department of Physics, Boston University

Instructor: Anders Sandvik

Lectures: Tuesday, Thursday 11 - 12:30, in CAS 327
Programming help & tutorials, Friday 1:30-3 PM, in CAS 327
Office hours: Monday 4-5 PM, Wednesday 3-4 PM, in SCI 316

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 (classical many-body systems), 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

Takehome exam posted: Deadline Thurs Dec 8.
Note: Friday tutorials always start at 1:30 PM from now on!

Lecture Notes and Program Examples

1) Introduction to the Fortran 90 programming language [Notes] [Programs]
     Lecture slides: [Sep 6(a)] [Sep 6(b)] [Sep 8] [Sep 13,15]
2) Numerical and Monte Carlo integration methods [Notes] [Programs]
     Lecture slides: [Sep 15] [Sep 20 (anim)]
3) Solving classical equations of motion [Notes] [Programs]
     Lecture slides: [Sep 22] [Sep 27] [Sep 29 (anim)] [Oct 4 (intro to postscript)]
4) Solving the Schrodinger equation [Notes] [Programs]
     Lecture slides: [Oct 6 (anim 1 anim 2 anim 3 anim 4 anim 5 anim 6)] [Oct 11] [Oct 13]
     [Oct 18 (anim 1 anim 2 anim 3 anim 4)] [Oct 20] [Oct 25 (anim 1 anim 2 anim 3 anim 4 anim 5]
5) Monte Carlo simulations in statistical mechanics [Notes] [Programs]
     Lecture slides: [Oct. 27] [Nov. 1 (anim 1 anim 2 anim 3 anim 4 anim 5 anim 6 anim 7)]
     [Nov. 3] [Nov. 8] [Nov. 10] [Nov. 15]
6) Diagonalization of quantum spin models [Notes] [Programs]
     Lecture slides: [Dec 06] [Dec 08]

Homework assignments

1) Due: Tuesday, September 20 [Problem text] [Supplied data set] [Solutions]
2) Due: Tuesday, October 4 [Problem text] [Solutions]
3) Due: Thursday, October 13 [Problem text] [Solutions]
4) Due: Tuesday, October 25 [Problem text] [Solutions]
5) Due: Tuesday, November 8 [Problem text] [Solutions]
6) Due: Tuesday, November 22 [Problem text] [Solutions]
Take-home exam Due: Dec 8 (in class) [Problem text] Data files needed: [l4.in] [l10.in]

Data analysis, 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]