Computational Physics: Problem Solving With Computers

E-Book Overview

This second edition increases the universality of the previous edition by providing all its codes in the Java language, whose compiler and development kit are available for free for essentially all operating systems. In addition, the accompanying CD provides many of the same codes in Fortran 95, Fortran 77, and C, for even more universal application, as well as MPI codes for parallel applications. The book also includes new materials on trial-and-error search techniques, IEEE floating point arithmetic, probability and statistics, optimization and tuning in multiple languages, parallel computing with MPI, JAMA the Java matrix library, the solution of simultaneous nonlinear equations, cubic splines, ODE eigenvalue problems, and Java plotting programs. From the reviews of the first edition: "Landau and Paez's book would be an excellent choice for a course on computational physics which emphasizes computational methods and programming." - American Journal of Physics

E-Book Content

Rubin H. Landau, Manuel José Páez, and Cristian C. Bordeianu Computational Physics 1807–2007 Knowledge for Generations Each generation has its unique needs and aspirations. When Charles Wiley first opened his small printing shop in lower Manhattan in 1807, it was a generation of boundless potential searching for an identity. And we were there, helping to define a new American literary tradition. Over half a century later, in the midst of the Second Industrial Revolution, it was a generation focused on building the future. Once again, we were there, supplying the critical scientific, technical, and engineering knowledge that helped frame the world. Throughout the 20th Century, and into the new millennium, nations began to reach out beyond their own borders and a new international community was born. Wiley was there, expanding its operations around the world to enable a global exchange of ideas, opinions, and know-how. For 200 years, Wiley has been an integral part of each generation’s journey, enabling the flow of information and understanding necessary to meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Today, bold new technologies are changing the way we live and learn. Wiley will be there, providing you the must-have knowledge you need to imagine new worlds, new possibilities, and new opportunities. Generations come and go, but you can always count on Wiley to provide you the knowledge you need, when and where you need it! William J. Pesce President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Booth Wiley Chairman of the Board Rubin H. Landau, Manuel J. Páez, and Cristian C. Bordeianu Computational Physics Problem Solving with Computers 2nd, Revised and Enlarged Edition The Authors Prof. Rubin H. Landau Oregon State University Department of Physics Oregon, USA [email protected] Prof. Manuel J. Páez Universidad de Antioquia Departamento Fisica Kolumbien [email protected] Prof. Cristian C. Bordeianu University of Bucharest Physics Dept. Bucharest, Romania [email protected] All books published by Wiley-VCH are carefully produced. Nevertheless, authors, editors, and publisher do not warrant the information contained in these books, including this book, to be free of errors. Readers are advised to keep in mind that statements, data, illustrations, procedural details or other items may inadvertently be inaccurate. Library of Congress Card No.: applied for British Library