What is Computational physics: Definition and 166 Discussions

Computational physics is the study and implementation of numerical analysis to solve problems in physics for which a quantitative theory already exists. Historically, computational physics was the first application of modern computers in science, and is now a subset of computational science.
It is sometimes regarded as a subdiscipline (or offshoot) of theoretical physics, but others consider it an intermediate branch between theoretical and experimental physics - an area of study which supplements both theory and experiment.

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  1. G

    Engineering Simulation of Circuits Without Kirchhoff's Laws?

    1. The problem statement, all variables, and given/known data I am currently drafting a proposal for a project in Computational Physics. I'm planning on creating a program that simulates circuits numerically instead of solving the system of equations. The purpose of my project is to observe the...
  2. Q

    Admissions Computational physics career change

    Hi, I am confused about which to choose between computational physics and data science. Actually I am a computer science undergraduate and I have 4 years of experience in data mining. I discovered my interest in physics, so I planned to do a graduate degree with the focus of physics. But the...
  3. S

    New member from ITESM Toluca

    Emphasis in Computational Mechanics I possesses knowledge of mathematical bases of models such as FEM, BEM and FDM. For which I have modeled the contact of two vertebrae solving FEM by implementation using Matlab and Python. Implementation for computational acquisition of normal modes of mass...
  4. maverick_starstrider

    I Spectral Bisection of Simplest Graph Clearly Incorrect

    I'm playing around with Spectral Bisections and Fiedler vectors as ways of bisecting a graph using the sparsest cut. However, I'm finding that even the most trivially simple graphs are bisected incorrectly by this approach. What am I missing? Take for example a graph that is just a 4x4...
  5. J

    I How to model Solar System formation accurately and realistically

    I've been working on a crude N-body simulator which allows N bodies of equal masses to interact gravitationally in 2 dimensions. My goal is to model the formation of Solar System. Each body is modeled as a circle with a radius as a function of its mass, in such a way that all bodies have the...
  6. Q

    Studying How should I prepare for a computational science masters?

    Hi I am a computer science undergraduate planning to do a master's degree in computational science(scientific computing) winter 2018. Since I have a bachelor's degree in computer science, I want to prepare before I apply for a degree. As of now I am following basic mathematics from A level...
  7. Jacob T Anderson

    Programs Computational Physics Major?

    Hello, I really want a major in Computation Physics but I don't think my University has a class. Should I instead go into a double major in Computer Science & Physics? Or should I go into physics at all? I live in Iowa so it's not the best location for jobs in physics.
  8. Q

    Other Job prospects in scientific computing

    Which sub field of scientific computing has better employ ability and job prospects? (within computational physics & computational biology). I meant both in industry and research oriented jobs where we would use the skills and knowledge relevant to the degree.
  9. Q

    Other Books about scientific computing

    Hello, can someone suggest me some introductory, or basic books on scientific computing(computational physics or computational biology) ? I m planning to study masters in it and I want to grasp the basics of it before i commit.
  10. Q

    Physics Simulation and model science or quantum computing

    I am a computer science under graduate,I am more interested in scientific research, so I am preparing to enrol myself masters in quantum computing or simulation sciences. before i join i want to research what are the scope and job opportunities are available for simulation sciences(like...
  11. sams

    Inquiring about Computer HW Specifications for Time-Intensive Calculations

    Dear Everyone, We are a research group doing research in computational sciences. We are considering ordering new computers for our research. I was wondering if anyone could advise us regarding the hardware specifications needed to run heavy and time-expensive programs, specifically in...
  12. Bassa

    "Shooting Method" for simulating a Particle in an Infinite Square Well

    Hello! I am trying to write a program that solves the Schrodinger Equation for a particle in an infinite square well. I did a lot of research regarding the methods that could be used to accomplish this. I am writing this program in Matlab. The method I am using is called the Shooting Method. In...
  13. G

    A Computing solutions to the radial Schroedinger equation?

    Hi all, I'm trying to compute the solutions to a general case for a Schroedinger equation with a radial potential but I'm stuck on a rather small detail that I'm not sure about. It's well known that I can perform the change of variables to spherical coordinates and express the radial part of the...
  14. F

    Courses Computational Physics vs General Physics

    What are the pros and cons between choosing Computational Physics vs choosing Gen Physics? I want to make the best choice I can but I want to move on to a masters in physics but I'm not sure if Computational Physics will have me ready for the masters degree.
  15. sams

    A Computational Physics: Trivial & Non-Trivial Solutions, LCAO

    Dear Everyone, 1. Could anyone please explain what is meant by trivial and non-trivial solutions? 2. LCAO: Ψ = ∑crΦr Ψ: Molecular orbitals c: coefficients Φ: Atomic orbitals When we talk about basis sets, do we mean here the coefficients or the atomic functions? Thanks a lot...
  16. AHashemi

    C/C++ Optimize C++ to use for computational physics?

    Hi I'm studying 2nd year for a bachelor's degree in physics and I'm interested in programming (Beginner C++ programmer). I have already done simulations like harmonic motions, Ising model etc but I know this can go further and I need help with that. I use Ubuntu for programming with c++. (GCC...
  17. T

    Courses Computational physics course or numerical analysis course

    A question for those who are computational physicist: Dear Computational physicist, I am struggling between computational physics course or numerical analysis. They are both in graduate level (so very intensive), one in physics department and another in math. Both are taught by leading experts...
  18. Aswin Kumar 00

    Can I Pursue a PG in Computational Physics After a B.Sc. in Physics?

    I am Aswin Kumar I am studying in 2nd year of my UG(B.sc.,) in Physics in Thiagarajar college, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. I have interest in coding and programming. I wish to do my PG in computational physics. But I don't know whether I can do it or not? Please kindly tell me that. If yes...
  19. apgt512

    Time dependent heat equation

    Homework Statement Solve the time dependent 1D heat equation using the Crank-Nicolson method. The conditions are a interval of length L=1, initial distribution of temperature is u(x,0) = 2-1.5x+sin(pi*x) and the temperature in the ends of the interval are u(0,t) = 2; u(1,t) = 0.5. Homework...
  20. Mathamans

    Using what I've learned in the classroom for Graphical Data

    I'm a first-year undergraduate student in mathematics and physics. In my Chemistry Lab class we've recently completed a graphical representation of data assignment and it was interesting. My question is, what can I do in regards to mathematics and physics, or something interesting in general...
  21. E

    Python Diffraction applet - how to make one in one day

    I'm not sure which forum this would go into, but I'm desperate so I'll just post here. So, I have exactly one day to make a diffraction applet. I know a lot about diffraction, nothing about making applets. I've programmed a tiny bit in python, but never made an actual project before. Here's an...
  22. T

    Complementary courses for computational physics?

    Hello, I've recently finished my M.S. in Theoretical Physics/Astrophysics, and am interested in finding a career in research via computer simulations, however, my school touched very little on technical aspects of such research. So my question is : does anyone have any suggestions for...
  23. Leonardo Machado

    Runge-Kutta 4th order program copying array element

    Hello, thanks for your interest in may help me, i appreciate it, really. My question is, I've wrote this code to solve an physical EDO system. But for some reason it copies the element k[1][3] at k[2][3]. After i call the initials elements the code becomes: for ( int n=1 ; n<=1; n++ ){...
  24. Leonardo Machado

    Problems with Runge-Kutta method

    I'm writing a program to compute an ODE solution of the Kepler's problem based on Runge-Kutta 4th order method and today I've past the whole day trying to made it work, but I've failed, maybe you could help me to kill the problem ? The solutions is cartesian. int main(){ int n...
  25. Y

    Computational Introduction to Computational Physics Texts?

    Hi all, I'm starting graduate school and really need a better handle on computational physics. I'm not extremely experienced with MATLAB and haven't used Python or anything else. Does anyone know a good textbook to get me started? I looked in the textbooks links to this forum thread and the...
  26. G

    Job Skills Becoming a physics consultant?

    Hello, I have a PhD in computational material science and experience using such computational techniques as Density Functional Theory and classical Molecular Dynamics. I would like to pursue a career in the private sector rather than in academia, however I found out the hard way that the...
  27. M

    Particle-in-cell method vs. PM/PPPM methods

    I'm doing a paper on the particle-in-cell method, which was designed by Harlow and Evans in the mid 50s. But I'm reading Hockney and Eastwood's book Computer Simulation Using Particles in which they describe their models, and term them PP (particle-particle), PM (particle-mesh), and PPPM...
  28. C

    A Free energy density in liquid crystals

    Hi, For someone who's familiar with LC's: How to derive the expression for free energy density of an hybrid aligned LC cell? what should be the vector for the director? I already familiar with the cases of splay and bend cell but couldn't understand how to derive it to the case where the cell is...
  29. TheDemx27

    How to Implement Damping in Particle Simulation

    So I made this simulation of charged particles: https://github.com/TheDemx27/Charge-Simulator My goal is to be able to put the charges on a line, as I've done, and see them tend toward a final state where there is more charge at the ends of the line and less towards the center. The problem is...
  30. 2

    Where can I begin learning about Computational Physics?

    Hi. I am interested in Computational Physics. I am a third year undergrad student and while I do like Physics in general, I am more attracted by the mathematical and computational part of it. How do I go about learning what's the field of Comp. Physics like? Where do I start? I do know some...
  31. Abdul Quader

    Need suggestions for PhD on Computational Physics

    Though there are several posts regarding Compuational Physics, I think my post is a little bit different from them. Currently I am doing my MS in Physics in Miami University and I am in my first year. I am searching a PhD program/group who work experimental and theoretical (computational) work...
  32. Ryaners

    Using Python to calculate projectile motion with resistance

    I'm trying to write a program to calculate the trajectory of a projectile with air resistance. I've made the following function which calculates the position of the particle based on a given launch angle and initial velocity: def traj_fr(angle, v0): #function that computes...
  33. Aaron young

    Visualising a system with graphene

    I am currently modelling van der Waals interactions using DFT-D as my undergrad thesis. The basic set-up is a molecule suspended above a crystal surface. To start the surface is graphene, which has been causing me some trouble as neither VMD nor VESTA are allowing me to visualise the set-up...
  34. T

    What field contains more physics in computational physics

    I am now a Ph.D. student just finishing my first year. According to my strengths, I think I should find my way in computational physics. The 'traditional' field of my advisor's group is DFT calculation. However, I think DFT calculation are more like procedures and does not contain much physics...
  35. O

    Dark matter particle search at CERN vs cosmology simulations

    Dark matter particle candidates are being searched at CERN and the various dark matter models are being probed by cosmological simulations. The usual way to probe models via cosmology is to plug a candidate into a cosmological simulation and then compare the results with observations. Yet...
  36. W

    Teaching a Programming Language for Physics PhD students

    Hello everyone, Head of our Physics department has asked me to teach a programming course for a few of their PhD candidates (mostly theoretical) who unfortunately are very bad in programming. He has shortage in his department and he wants someone from CS to do the job. I looked around and it...
  37. Prof. 27

    Python DEAP Library -- List index out of range error

    Homework Statement So I'm currently modifying an example Symbolic Regression program that uses genetic programming, a type of evolutionary algorithm. I'm using the python deap library. Not sure if anyone on here is familiar with it, but I think that the error is more general to a misuse of...
  38. E

    Did I waste time getting an MS in computational physics?

    I completed the first year of grad school in physics and then contemplated returning to get the master's or just drop out. I had some prior experience using C++ and C# and was getting interviews for C# developer roles, but could not pass technical interviews since I failed questions on data...
  39. C

    How much faster is Python than Mathematica?

    I've been running some of my own simulations of a variation on a standard map using Verlet integration on Mathematica, and I would like to start generating maps of phase space using ~25,000 initial points. I'm currently at 1000 points using Mathematica, and each simulation takes about 15 minutes...
  40. G

    What Should a Computational Physics Student Look for in a Desktop Computer?

    So, I'm going into my senior year in college. I'm a physics major working on computational physics research - lots of enormous sets of data and multi-dimensional modeling. I'm also applying to phd programs for when I graduate. I have a $1500 grant for use in my research, so my PI has told me to...
  41. CupOfNoodles

    Computational Physics Concentration

    Hello, I'm new to the Physics Forums website. I am in my 5th (and last) year of undergraduate Electrical Engineering, and am planning on applying for a PhD in some computational field. I'm not sure, however, what specific field I want to go into, and I was hoping someone could give me some...
  42. J

    Computer Engineering & Physics: Dual Majoring for Future PhD?

    Hello my parents are forcing me to do engineering, I got accepted to a program in computer engineering, but the thing is I am also interested in physics specifically computational areas so I was wondering If its possible to do a double major in computer engineering and physics and then go and...
  43. Raazi

    Modeling Hydrophobic Interactions

    Hi, I am trying to design or find a simulator for hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions which can be used in tandem with a multi-objective optimization framework such as Jmetal or etc... I am having trouble determining a generalized approach for modeling the contact angle from younge's equation...
  44. M

    Python, solving Schrodinger equation using Runge-Kutta

    Homework Statement I'm currently working on a project in which I have to solve the energy eigenvalues of the Schrodinger equation to compute the mass of certain Mesons. We've been taught very little programming (so apologies that my understanding is very basic), and are therefore given any...
  45. Rapier

    Crank-Nicolson Method: Solving Homework Equations

    Homework Statement So I'm back to my wonderful computational physics course after a brief hiatus and once again, I am teaching myself the material. This unit we are working on some thermodynamics. We've just used the "Leap Frog" method to determine heat transfer of a 100k bar with both ends...
  46. A

    Comparing Computational Physics PhD Programs: CMU vs. Harvard, Chicago, and UIUC

    My interests are mainly computational physics and theoretical soft matter physics. How good is the PhD program in (Computational) Physics at CMU (and the Physics Department in general)?
  47. JohnPrior3

    Gambler's Ruin in Matlab: Solving the Loop Problem

    For Matlab, I need to write a program where a Gambler starts with 5 dollars and runs out with 1 dollar bets. The house has favorable odds of 70/30. I have gotten very far, but I can't find out how to end the loop when the gambler reaches 0. Here is my script: A = 5 n=100; x=rand(1,n)...
  48. 1

    Getting into data science from computational physics?

    I'm currently working on a master's degree in physics where my project uses C++. I have read about how some physics phD's were able to get data scientist roles despite working on computational astrophysics. This is a little surprising to me since I thought experimentalists would be more suited...
  49. DrClaude

    Computational physics textbook using python

    I'm looking for a textbook on computational physics based on python. For now I have found Computational Physics with Python by Mark Newman, which I am trying to evaluate. If you have experience with this book or a similar book, I would like to hear from you. (And only if you have knowledge...
  50. S

    Mathematica Mathematica: Speed up NIntegrate

    I have simplified my problem here, in my actual problem the matrix is much bigger which makes it impossible to find eigenvalues analytically. So, I chose standard BCS problem (2x2 matrix) to demonstrate my problem with Mathematica. But, with even this simple case, it takes forever to integrate...
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