Ian H. HutchinsonCambridge University Press, 4/30/2015EAN 9781107095670, ISBN10: 1107095670Hardcover, 221 pages, 23.5 x 15.8 x 1.5 cmLanguage: EnglishThis concise, plain-language guide for senior undergraduates and graduate students aims to develop intuition, practical skills and an understanding of the framework of numerical methods for the physical sciences and engineering. It provides accessible self-contained explanations of mathematical principles, avoiding intimidating formal proofs. Worked examples and targeted exercises enable the student to master the realities of using numerical techniques for common needs such as solution of ordinary and partial differential equations, fitting experimental data, and simulation using particle and Monte Carlo methods. Topics are carefully selected and structured to build understanding, and illustrate key principles such as: accuracy, stability, order of convergence, iterative refinement, and computational effort estimation. Enrichment sections and in-depth footnotes form a springboard to more advanced material and provide additional background. Whether used for self-study, or as the basis of an accelerated introductory class, this compact textbook provides a thorough grounding in computational physics and engineering.Preface1. Fitting functions to data2. Ordinary differential equations3. Two-point boundary conditions4. Partial differential equations5. Diffusionparabolic PDEs6. Elliptic problems and iterative matrix solution7. Fluid dynamics and hyperbolic equations8. Boltzmann's equation and its solution9. Energy-resolved diffusive transport10. Atomistic and particle-in-cell simulation11. Monte Carlo techniques12. Monte Carlo radiation transport13. Next stepsAppendix A. Summary of matrix algebraIndex.
