Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2021 - PHYS 395 D100

Computational Physics (3)

Class Number: 1830

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 11 – Apr 16, 2021: Tue, Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 27, 2021
    Tue, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    MATH 260 or MATH 310; PHYS 255; CMPT 120 or equivalent. All prerequisite courses require a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Computer-based approaches to solving complex physical problems. Includes topics such as Monte-Carlo and molecular dynamics techniques applied to thermal properties of materials; dynamical behavior of systems, including chaotic motion; methods for ground state determination and optimization, including Newton-Raphson, simulated annealing, neural nets, and genetic algorithms: symplectic methods; and analysis of numerical data. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will cover the application of numerical methods to a range of physics problems.  Python will be the language of choice for the course.  The planned topics are:

·        Random number generation

·        Linear algebra (solving linear equations, least square fits, Cholesky and singular value decompositions)

·        Spectral methods

·        Root finding and optimization

·        Solving ordinary differential equations (integration methods, initial vs. boundary value problems)

·        Solving partial differential equations

·        Molecular dynamics

·        Monte Carlo simulations

·        Neural networks

·        Parallel computing and running on GPUs
·        Quantum computing and running on a QPU

Course delivery: Synchronous.

Grading

NOTES:

Course work will be carried out in class by developing code to solve assigned problems for a given week’s topic.  These weekly assignments will constitute 50% of the grade.  The last 4 weeks of the course will be devoted to the investigation of two computational physics projects in depth.  These two projects will be worth 25% each.

·        Weekly assigned work  (50%)

·        2 projects (2 x 25% = 50%)

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students who cannot write their exam during the course's scheduled exam time must request accommodation from their instructor in writing, clearly stating the reason for this request, before the end of the first week of classes.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2021

Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).