What math courses are useful for physicists?

[Stochastic13]

I know you need a year of calculus linear algebra and differential equations and vector calculus, but I was what would be some other really useful math courses for physicists?

 

[capandbells]

In addition to the four that you mention, you almost certainly need these:
Complex Analysis (at the very least covering contour integration)
Fourier Analysis
PDEs

Classes in probability, statistics and numerical analysis would also be helpful. There are a lot of other courses I could list, but some of their usefulness is dependent on what you want to study.

 

[Jack21222]

I've heard at least one physicist talk about how he uses topology in his research.

Pretty much any math will be useful in some branch of physics.

 

[Stochastic13]

I'm really interested in astrophysics, and quantum mechanics, not sure which of the two I'm more interested in just yet, but if you can tell me which math courses are relevant for each I would really appreciate it.

 

[Caramon]

Would it be a good idea, in preparation for a PhD program in Theoretical Physics, to just double major in Math as well as Physics in order to get a really firm grounding in Math?

 

[Jack21222]

I'm really interested in astrophysics, and quantum mechanics, not sure which of the two I'm more interested in just yet, but if you can tell me which math courses are relevant for each I would really appreciate it.

"Quantum mechanics" isn't really a branch of physics that you can specialize in. Condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, astrophysics and many others all use quantum mechanics.

I think your question has already been answered, I don't know if you'll get anything from asking minor variations of the same question.

 

[Truecrimson]

In addition to what Jack21222 said, if you happen to like "quantum mechanics," you can also consider specializing in quantum information and computation or quantum optics.

Many threads around here are dedicated to what kind of maths are needed to learn quantum mechanics. A short answer is that it depends on the level of understanding you want to have. DEs and linear algebra focusing on calculations will be enough to get you through a typical course in quantum mechanics. Rigorous linear algebra is essential to understand quantum mechanics. Then if you really want to understand "absolutely everything" about it, you will want to study functional analysis, Lie groups and their representations etc.

For quantum optics, the book by Mandel and Wolf probably can give you some ideas about the math involved.

 

[ZapperZ]

I know you need a year of calculus linear algebra and differential equations and vector calculus, but I was what would be some other really useful math courses for physicists?

Please read this thread:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=489682

Zz.

 

[Stochastic13]

Thanks guys you really helped me design the upper-level course work.

 

[Geezer]

I know you need a year of calculus linear algebra and differential equations and vector calculus, but I was what would be some other really useful math courses for physicists?

Off the top of my head: analysis and partial differential equations.

You can't have too much math background if you're going into physics. Take as many courses as you can handle.

 

[samuelarnold]

The language of physics is mathematics. In order to study physics seriously, one needs to learn mathematics that took generations of brilliant people centuries to work out.

for example, Algebra was cutting-edge mathematics when it was being developed in Baghdad in the 9th century. But today it's just the first step along the journey.

 

[Ashuron]

The language of physics is mathematics. In order to study physics seriously, one needs to learn mathematics that took generations of brilliant people centuries to work out.

for example, Algebra was cutting-edge mathematics when it was being developed in Baghdad in the 9th century. But today it's just the first step along the journey.

A professor of mine said maths gives physics its predicting power..
without the math, physics are just a bunch of facts..
such as those pop science books..

 

[Luke101]

for example, Algebra was cutting-edge mathematics when it was being developed in Baghdad in the 9th century. But today it's just the first step along the journey.

Im wanting to get a solid maths background to start physics. I've pretty much forgotten everything. Would you recommend starting with Algebra?