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| Week | Lecture No. | Date | Subject | Homework |
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1 | 1 | Mon, Aug 27 | Introduction to computational
physics. Course logistics.
Coursera &
EdX
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| 2 | Wed, Aug 29 | Top 500 supercomputer
sites.
A very short introduction to linux, I.
Popularity
of programming languages.
C programming: ’Hello, world!’.
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| 3 | Fri, Aug 31 | C programming: variables;
’for’ loops.
Fibonacci
numbers.
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2 | – | Mon, Sep 3 | Labor Day - No classes | |
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| 4 | Wed, Sep 5 | C programming: integer
division.
Basel
sum I.
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| 5 | Fri, Sep 7 | C programming: nested loops,
functions and function declarations. Basel
sum II.
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3 | 6 | Mon, Sep 10 | C programming: local and global
variables; scope of variables. Basel sum III.
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| 7 | Wed, Sep 12 | Correct programs –
wrong results: use recurrence to compute a family of
integrals In = ∫01 xn ex−1 dx, I.
| HW1 |
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| 8 | Fri, Sep 14 | Programming languages;
The choice of C as the programming language for the
course; C programming: conditionals.
Linux: output redirection.
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4 | 9 | Mon, Sep 17 |
C programming: boolean operators.
Correct programs – wrong results: calculation of π by evaluating the
perimeter of a regular polygon, I.
Linux: graphing with gnuplot
| HW2 |
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| 10 | Wed, Sep 19 |
Correct programs – wrong results: calculation of π
by evaluating the perimeter of a regular polygon, II.
C programming: arrays, I. Use recurrence to compute a family of
integrals In = ∫01 xnex−1 dx, II.
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| 11 | Fri, Sep 21 | C programming: arrays, II; pointers.
Use recurrence to compute a family of
integrals In = ∫01 xnex−1 dx, II.
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5 | 12 | Mon, Sep 24 | Numerical systems:
decimal, octal, hexadecimal, binary. Conversion
between systems. Operation with binary numbers.
multiplication/division by 2, exclusive or (xor, ⊕).
Bits, bytes. ASCII.
| HW3 |
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| 13 | Wed, Sep 26 | Introduction
to cryptography. Stream ciphers. One time pad –
“unbreakable” cipher.
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| 14 | Fri, Sep 28 | Computer representation
of integer and real numbers, I.
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6 | 15 | Mon, Oct 1 | Computer
representation of integer and real numbers, II.
Machine epsilon.
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| 16 | Wed, Oct 3 | Errors in floating
point computations, I.
C programming: while-loop; x++ and ++x.
| HW4 |
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| 17 | Fri, Oct 5 | Errors in floating
point computations, II. C programming: local and
global variables.
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7 | – | Mon, Oct 8 | Midterm I.
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| 18 | Wed, Oct 10 |
Analysis of “Correct programs – wrong results”.
Kahan summation algorithm. Lessons lerned.
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| 19 | Fri, Oct 12 | C programming: struct, I.
Gnu scientific library. Experiment: estimate π;
setup: CD, ruler, pen and paper, large-grain “sand”.
Monte Carlo method I; calculate π using MC
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8 | 20 | Mon, Oct 15 | Introduction to the
physics computer lab.
| HW5 |
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| 21 | Wed, Oct 17 | Monte Carlo
method II
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| 22 | Fri, Oct 19 | Random number generators (RNG):
requirements; empirical tests; linear congruental
generators.
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9 | 23 | Mon, Oct 22 | C programming: recursion, I;
factorial, Fibonacci numbers.
| HW6 |
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| 24 | Wed, Oct 24 | C programming: recursion, II;
Hanoi tower. Sorting: buble sort, quicksort.
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| 25 | Fri, Oct 26 | Solving ODE: initial and boundary
value problems; shooting method. Euler method.
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10 | - | Mon, Oct 29 | No classes due to
hurricane Sandy
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| 26 | Wed, Oct 31 | Solving ODE with GSL:
van der Pol oscillator.
| HW7 |
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| 27 | Fri, Nov 2 | Solving ODE with GSL: 1D flame
propagation. Stiff differential equations.
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11 | 28 | Mon, Nov 5 | Solving ODE with GSL:
Lorenz chaotic attractor. Dynamic chaos.
| HW8 |
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| 29 | Wed, Nov 7 | Solving ODE review.
Takehome Midterm II.
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| 30 | Fri, Nov 9 | Restricted three
body problem, I.
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12 | 31 | Mon, Nov 12 | Restricted three body
problem, II.
| HW9 |
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| 32 | Wed, Nov 14 | No class – to be
rescheduled.
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| 33 | Fri, Nov 16 | Converting differential
equations to dimensionless form. Restricted three body
problem, III.
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13 | - | Mon, Nov 19 | Thanksgiving recess | |
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| - | Wed, Nov 21 | Thanksgiving recess | |
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| - | Fri, Nov 23 | Thanksgiving recess | |
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14 | 34 | Mon, Nov 26 | Partial differential equations.
Spinodal decomposition
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| 35 | Wed, Nov 28 | Spinodal decomposition II:
Cahn-Hilliard equation.
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| 36 | Fri, Nov 30 | Fast Fourier Transform (FFT);
Using FFT for PDEs solution.
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| 37 | Fri, Nov 30 | Makeup class: Finite difference
methods; Jacobi and Gauss-Seidel Iterations.
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