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  • Textbook
  • © 2013

Computational Physics

Simulation of Classical and Quantum Systems

  • Features numerous computer examples; no programming skills necessary
  • Includes separate parts on numerical methods and simulations
  • Gives detailed explanations without mathematical proofs
  • Covers many basic areas in physics
  • Discusses standard numerical methods and more recent developments
  • Contains exercises and solutions to all topics
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Graduate Texts in Physics (GTP)

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Table of contents (21 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XVIII
  2. Numerical Methods

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Error Analysis

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 3-14
    3. Interpolation

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 15-35
    4. Numerical Differentiation

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 37-43
    5. Numerical Integration

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 45-57
    6. Systems of Inhomogeneous Linear Equations

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 59-81
    7. Roots and Extremal Points

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 83-111
    8. Fourier Transformation

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 113-126
    9. Random Numbers and Monte Carlo Methods

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 127-145
    10. Eigenvalue Problems

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 147-160
    11. Data Fitting

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 161-175
    12. Discretization of Differential Equations

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 177-205
    13. Equations of Motion

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 207-235
  3. Simulation of Classical and Quantum Systems

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 237-237
    2. Rotational Motion

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 239-262
    3. Molecular Mechanics

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 263-277
    4. Thermodynamic Systems

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 279-291
    5. Random Walk and Brownian Motion

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 293-304
    6. Electrostatics

      • Philipp O. J. Scherer
      Pages 305-328

About this book

This textbook presents basic and advanced computational physics in a very didactic style. It contains very-well-presented and simple mathematical descriptions of many of the most important algorithms used in computational physics. 

The first part of the book discusses the basic numerical methods. The second part concentrates on simulation of classical and quantum systems. Several classes of integration methods are discussed including not only the standard Euler and Runge Kutta method but also multi-step methods and the class of Verlet methods, which is introduced by studying the motion in Liouville space. A general chapter on the numerical treatment of differential equations provides methods of finite differences, finite volumes, finite elements and boundary elements together with spectral methods and weighted residual based methods. 

The book gives simple but non trivial examples from a broad range of physical topics trying to give the reader insight into notonly the numerical treatment but also simulated problems. Different methods are compared with regard to their stability and efficiency. The exercises in the book are realised as computer experiments. 

Reviews

From the book reviews:

“The well-written monograph about computational physics is based on two-semester lecture courses given by the author on a period of several years for undergraduate physics and biophysics students … . convenient for students and practitioners of computer science, chemistry, and mathematics who are interested in applications of numerical methods in physics and engineering sciences. … well-organized book with a concentration to the important ideas of the methods and physical applications including software, examples, illustrations, and references to further reading.” (Georg Hebermehl, zbMATH, Vol. 1303, 2015)

Authors and Affiliations

  • München, Physikdepartment T38, Technische Universität, Garching, Germany

    Philipp O.J. Scherer

About the author

Prof. Scherer received his PhD in experimental and theoretical physics in 1984. He joined the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Tsukuba, Japan, as a visiting scientist in 2001 and 2003. His area of research includes biomolecular physics and the computer simulation of molecular systems with classical and quantum methods. He has published books on theoretical molecular physics and computational physics.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access