The Department of Physics and Astronomy at East Tennessee State University will be offering Computational Physics (PHYS-4007 for undergraduate credit, PHYS-5007 for graduate credit) during the Fall 2002 semester (Tuesday and Thursday 11:15 am - 12:35 pm). This 3 credit hour course will be taught by Dr. Donald Luttermoser, whose area of research involves computation modeling of astrophysical objects. Computational Physics is designed to cover techniques used in modeling physical systems numerically. As well, it is designed to help the students in the selection of a computing platform (PC versus RISC-based workstations), operating system (Unix versus Windows), and programming language (structured languages, such as Fortran, C, IDL, and MatLab versus object-oriented languages, such as C++ and Visual Basic) that best meet the requirements needed to solve the problem. Techniques will be developed to solve systems of linear equations, ordinary differential equations (ODE), and partial differential equations (PDE). The students also will be introduced to techniques of fitting data, and solving equations describing random systems through the Monte Carlo Method. All of these techniques will then be integrated in developing strategies to numerically model physical systems.
The prerequisite for this course is Technical Physics I & II (PHYS-2110/20). (Note that permission to register also will be given to those students who have had Differential Equations, MATH-3200.) Though previous computer programming experience is not required, such experience will be beneficial to the student. During the first few weeks of class, the students will choose the programming language they wish to use for the course. Supplemental instruction will be given to the individual student in that programming language should it be needed. The student will have to complete two computer projects, which will each require a term paper to be submitted describing the code and results. The students will be instructed in the use of the mark-up language LaTeX2e, which is used in various journals of astronomy, physics, and mathematics. The students will be required to write their term papers with LaTeX.
Computational Physics is a problem-solving course, that is, the measure of a student's progress is demonstrated by the ability to solve numerical problems in physics and present this work in a scientific manner. Upon completion of this course, the student will possess the basic knowledge of numerical modeling that may be required for graduate school or in a position at a technical corporation. Finally, it is strongly recommended that all physics majors take this course, since computer projects are often required in other upper-level physics courses offered at ETSU (e.g., Quantum Physics, PHYS-4617). This course also should be useful to Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology majors.
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