Learning objectives
The objective of the course is to familiarize with implementation of numerical methods for scientific calculus in mathematical physicist field using some programming languages, in particular Matlab.
At the end of the course the student should be able to understand and develop some proposed numerical algorithms, proving his ability with the acquired notions in understanding and solving some problems in physics.
Prerequisites
Basic notions of mathematical calculus and of classical physics.
Course unit content
The basic contents of the course concern the elements of numerical analysis aimed to solve elementary problems in Physics in both experimental and theoretical fields. In details: data analysis and comparison with numerical simulation of physics experiments; numerical algorithms to solve ordinary differential equations in some cases such as the calculus of planetary orbits, the stability and caos in Hamiltonian systems; numerical algorithms to solve partial differential equations in some cases such as the heat conduction, wave eqautions.
Full programme
Elements of Programming in Matlab.
Numerical algoritms: root finding, solution of linear algebraic equations, polynomial interpolation, least squares problem, formulas of numerical integration, random numbers, Monte Carlo method, integration of ordinary differential equations, introduction on partial differential equations.
Numerical codes: data analyses and least squares method, numerical calculus in one or more dimensions and comparison between different algorithms, Monte Carlo simulation of a physics experiment, solution of ordinary differential equations and comparison between different algorithms in the case of easy problems of classical physics (simple pendulum with friction variable length pendulum, gravitational two -body problem, three-body problem (Sun,Earth,Moon), n-body problem; stability of hamiltonian systems, solution of heat equation in some simple cases.
Bibliography
The teacher distributes some lecture notes.
Teaching methods
Both lectures and computer exsercises in laboratory in order to develop numerical codes mainly in Matlab.
Assessment methods and criteria
Final evaluation relies on developing and discussing numerical algorithms introduced during the course; moreover the student is required to develop an original code which solve a physics problem weekly discussed with the teacher during laboratory activities. Two verification tests will be given during the course.
Other information
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