Syllabus for |
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| FKA121 - Computational physics |
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| Syllabus adopted 2017-02-18 by Head of Programme (or corresponding) |
| Owner: MPAPP |
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7,5 Credits |
| Grading: TH - Five, Four, Three, Fail |
| Education cycle: Second-cycle |
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Major subject: Engineering Physics |
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Department: 16 - PHYSICS
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Teaching language: English
Open for exchange students
Block schedule:
D+
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Credit distribution |
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Examination dates |
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Sp1 |
Sp2 |
Sp3 |
Sp4 |
Summer course |
No Sp |
| 0199 |
Examination |
7,5c |
Grading: TH |
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7,5c
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Contact examiner, |
Contact examiner, |
Contact examiner |
In programs
MPAPP APPLIED PHYSICS, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (compulsory elective)
MPCAS COMPLEX ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
MPCAS COMPLEX ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (compulsory elective)
MPPAS PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
Examiner:
Professor
Göran Wahnström
Eligibility:
In order to be eligible for a second cycle course the applicant needs to fulfil the general and specific entry requirements of the programme that owns the course. (If the second cycle course is owned by a first cycle programme, second cycle entry requirements apply.)
Exemption from the eligibility requirement:
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling these requirements.
Course specific prerequisites
Some programming knowledge and experience, preferably in C. Basic undergraduate physics.
Aim
The aim of the course is to refine computational skills by providing direct experience in using a computer to solve problems in physics. Numerical techniques are introduced and applied in a broad spectrum of various physical problems. The course is designed to develop an understanding of modeling physical systems using different numerical techniques.
Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)
use C to solve numerical problems and to visualize computational results.
explain and numerically apply the basic idea behind the molecular dynamics simulation method.
explain how random numbers can be used to treat static and dynamic phenomena and numerically apply the methodology.
explain and numerically apply the basic idea behind the Metropolis Monte Carlo method.
integrate knowledge in modeling physical systems with various numerical techniques.
write well-structured technical reports where computational results are presented and explained.
communicate results and conclusions in a clear way.
Content
the programming language C
ordinary differential equations, molecular dynamics simulation
random numbers, random processes, Brownian dynamics
discrete and fast Fourier transforms, power spectrum analysis
Monte Carlo integration and the Metropolis algorithm
Variational and diffusion Monte Carlo
Organisation
The different numerical techniques and the physical problems are presented in a series of lectures. The most important part in the course is the students own activity in applying the methods and solving a set of exercises and homework assignments. Scheduled computer laboratory sessions are provided, with instructors available for consultation. The programming language C is being used in the course.
Literature
Lecture notes will be made available.
Recommended additional literature.
For numerical methods:
Willliam H. Press et al.,
"Numerical Recipes; The Art of Scientific Computing",
(3rd edition, Cambridge University Press, 2007),
For more experienced students:
J.M.Thijssen,
"Computational Physics",
(2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, 2007).
Examination
The examination will be based on exercises and homework assignments.