Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Numerical solutions to mathematical and physics problems is a cornerstone of both physics and applied mathematics research. This module is a an applied, numerical course designed to introduce three important techniques that are applied to condensed matter physics, fluid dynamics and the solid state. These are Monte Carlo, Lattice-Boltzmann and finite element.

Computational physics provides an alternative approach for the solution of practical and theoretical problems. The module will developed further the Monte Carlo technique introduced in the third year making a more explicit connection between MC and statistical mechanics and developing this technique further by introducing quantum Monte Carlo methods. Lattice-gas automata are used to model fluid dynamics and increasingly form part of the canon of computational physics, and are applied for example to fluid flow in porous media and even quantum mechanical systems. The finite element method is a further discretised method with applications both to fluids and solids This section of the course follows directly from the finite differences encountered in the solution to partial differential equations this is the method of choice for solving structural mechanical problems and is also used in computational fluid dynamics. The Fortran programming environment will be used, building on the techniques used in the earlier modules. A step-by-step guide to the implementation of these numerical methods forms part of the programming workshops.