PY 355 - Methods of Theoretical Physics - Spring 2026

Lecture Schedule and Notes

Note: AvD = Altland, von Delft. S = Shankar. AWH = Arfken, Weber, Harris

DateTopicNotes
Th May 7 Final Exam, 12-1:30pm, SCI 113 SCI B58 (extra time room)
Th Apr 30 Differential Equations II Lecture 23
Course Evaluation
Tu Apr 28 Differential Equations I Lecture 22
M Apr 27 Discussion 12: Differential Equations and Eigenvalue Problems Discussion 12 and Solutions 12
Th Apr 23 Hermitian Eigensystems and Orthogonal Transforms Lecture 21
W Apr 22 Discussion 11: More Linear Algebra (Wednesday on Monday schedule) Discussion 11 and Solutions 11
Tu Apr 21 Eigenvalue Problems Lecture 20
M Apr 20 Marathon Day
Th Apr 16 Abstract Vector Spaces Lecture 19
Tu Apr 14 Trace, Transpose, Change of Basis Lecture 18
M Apr 13 Discussion 10: Matrices and Gaussian Elimination Discussion 10 and Solutions 10
Th Apr 9 Determinants and Cramer's Rule Lecture 17
Tu Apr 7 Linear Maps, Matrices, and Determinants Lecture 16
AWH 2.2, AvD L5
M Apr 6 Discussion 9: Dirac Delta Discussion 9 and Solutions 9
Th Apr 2 In-Class Midterm 2
Tu Mar 31 Midterm 2 Review Session with Xiang Jin, 7-9PM, TBA Practice Midterm 2 and Solutions
Tu Mar 31 Cylindrical Coordinates; Dirac Delta Functions Lecture 15
Griffiths' Dirac Deltas
Lighthill, 1959, An Introduction to Fourier analysis and generalised functions for the interested.
M Mar 30 Discussion 8: Laplacian and Curvilinear Coordinates Discussion 8 and Solutions 8
Th Mar 26 Curvilinear Coordinates Lecture 14
Griffiths' Curvilinear Coordinates
Griffiths' Curvilinear Appendix
Vector Derivatives Formulae
S C3, AWH C3
Tu Mar 24 Scalar and Vector Potentials Lecture 13
S C7, AWH C3
M Mar 23 Discussion 7: Integral Vector Calculus Discussion 7 and Solutions 7
Th Mar 19 Volume Integrals; Stokes' Theorem Lecture 12
S C7, AWH C3
Tu Mar 17 Line and Surface Integrals Lecture 11
S C7, AWH C3
M Mar 16 Discussion 6: Vector Calculus Discussion 6 and Solutions 6
Th Mar 5 Curl, Higher Vector Derivatives Lecture 10b
S C7, AWH C3
Tu Mar 3 Del, Grad, Div Lecture 10
S C7, AWH C3
M Mar 2 Discussion: Midterm 1 returned
Th Feb 26 In-Class Midterm 1
Tu Feb 24 Snow Day - lecture cancelled
M Feb 23 Discussion 5: Index Gymnastics Discussion 5 and Solutions 5
Su Feb 22 Midterm 1 Review Session with Xiang Jin, 3-5PM, SCI B58
Th Feb 19 Vectors (cont), Fields Lecture 9
S C7, AWH C3
Tu Feb 17 Discussion 4: Complex Functions Discussion 4 and Solutions 4
Th Feb 12 Vectors Lecture 8
S C7, AWH C3.1-3.2
Tu Feb 10 Complex Integration Lecture 7
S C6
M Feb 9 Discussion 3: Complex Numbers Discussion 3 and Solutions 3
Th Feb 5 Complex Functions Lecture 6
S C6
Tu Feb 3 Complex Numbers Lecture 5
S C5
M Feb 2 Discussion 2: Integrals Discussion 2 and Solutions 2
Th Jan 29 Intro to Python 2 Intro2 in JupyterHub.
Tu Jan 27 Calculus of 1 Real Variable Lecture 3
AvD C1-2, S C1-2
M Jan 26 Discussion 1: Sketching and Taylor Discussion 1 and Solutions 1
Th Jan 22 Intro to Python Intro in JupyterHub.
Tu Jan 20 Introduction; Numbers
Lecture 1
AvD L1.1,1.4, S C1 (esp. C1.5)