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PHY 390: Computational Research in Physics

[bullet] Overview

This course provides students in the computational physics sequence with a capstone experience during the Spring semester of their senior year. It is an independent research project course, where each student applies a particular computational technique to a problem in physics. A project may be a current research project of a faculty member or any other substantial computational project.

[bullet] Course Objectives

Students completing this course will
  1. perform a literature search to learn background physics for a specific problem,
  2. develop a mathematical model to solve the problem,
  3. design and test a computer simulation which implements the mathematical model,
  4. organize and analyze the simulation data and draw physical conclusion,
  5. write reports on the project and present the results in a seminar format.

[bullet] Reference Reading

W. H. Press, B. P. Flannery, S. A. Teukolsky, and W. T. Vetterling, "Numerical Recipes - The Art of Scientific Computing," Cambridge University Press, 1986.

[bullet] Course Organization

Each student will work on a particular project of mutual interest with a faculty member. The requirements are as follows:
  1. to submit two written reports:
    • a mid-term progress report on background and methodology
    • a final formal report with results and conclusion

  2. to give two half-hour oral presentations:
    • a mid-term progress report
    • a final formal report
Students are also encouraged to present their results at the ISU Undergraduate Research Symposium, the Argonne Symposium for Undergraduate Research, or appropriate scientific meetings. If results are of wide interest, publication in the Journal of Undergraduate Research or a scientific research journal may also be appropriate.
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Computational Physics Program Requirements
Computational Science Courses