Scientific Computing, Physics - General & Miscellaneous

An Introduction to Computer Simulation Methods: Applications to Physical Systems

Name: An Introduction to Computer Simulation Methods: Applications to Physical Systems
Author: Harvey Gould
ISBN: 9780805377583

by Harvey Gould, Jan Tobochnik, Christian Wolfgang

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Overview

KEY BENEFIT: Now in its third edition, this book teaches physical concepts using computer simulations. The text incorporates object-oriented programming techniques and encourages readers to develop good programming habits in the context of doing physics. Designed for readers at all levels , An Introduction to Computer Simulation Methods uses Java, currently the most popular programming language. Introduction, Tools for Doing Simulations, Simulating Particle Motion, Oscillatory Systems, Few-Body Problems: The Motion of the Planets, The Chaotic Motion of Dynamical Systems, Random Processes, The Dynamics of Many Particle Systems, Normal Modes and Waves, Electrodynamics, Numerical and Monte Carlo Methods, Percolation, Fractals and Kinetic Growth Models, Complex Systems, Monte Carlo Simulations of Thermal Systems, Quantum Systems, Visualization and Rigid Body Dynamics, Seeing in Special and General Relativity, Epilogue: The Unity of Physics For all readers interested in developing programming habits in the context of doing physics.

Synopsis

The third edition of this undergraduate textbook continues to focus on teaching and learning physics concepts and their applications through computer simulations but has converted the simulations to the popular programming language Java. The volume uses object-oriented programming and encourages the development of good programming habits in the context of doing physics. New material on complex systems, visualization, rigid body dynamics and relativity have been added. The text is appropriate for a variety of levels within the physics curriculum and can also be used in project-oriented courses in which students with different backgrounds and abilities work together. Annotation © 2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

About the Author, Harvey Gould

Harvey Gould uses molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo methods to study glasses, the dynamics of first-order phase transitions, and other problems in statistical mechanics. His work involves the application of computer simulation algorithms as well as renormalization group and cluster methods. Gould recently co-authored the second edition of an undergraduate level text on computer simulation in physics. He can "foresee the day when physics students take a required computational science curriculum comparable in scope to the present day mathematics curriculum."

Gould is a native of California and received his B.A. and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He did postdoctoral work at the National Bureau of Standards and taught at the University of Michigan before coming to Clark University in 1971. His leisure time is spent with his family and listening to music, especially jazz.