Physics 795/895 -- Introduction to Scientific Computing Fall 2017
This web page: http://squirrel.sr.unh.edu/~jraeder/PHYS-795-895-F2017/index.html
Objectives:
This course is designed to teach graduate students and advanced undergraduate students
the tools of the trade that are required to solve common computational tasks that come up in research.
Many of these tools are very different from the graphical user interface apps
that most are familiar with (mostly running on Windows/Android/IOS/OsX computers)
and require a deeper knowledge of the inner workings of computers as well as mastering the command line,
writing scripts, and rudimentary programming in a UNIX/Linux environment.
This course does not replace a thorough programming course,
but it provides the fundamentals for using programming in a research environment.
This course also serves as a good preparation for IAM 751/851 and similar courses.
Topics:
- Introduction to computer hardware and architecture
- Operating system fundamentals
- File systems
- Networks
- Compilers
- Text editors and essential command line tools
- Programming basics: shell, perl, C and Fortran
- Using libraries and open source software
- Basic data analysis: sorting, curve fitting, statistics, correlation, FFT, spectra, wavelets
- Graphics and visualization: postscript/pdf, gnuplot, ffmpeg
- Numerical math: linear/nonlinear systems, integration
- Numerically solving ordinary/partial differential equations: oscillation, waves, heat/diffusion
- Publishing using LaTeX.
Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites except fundamental math skills (calculus, linearity) and a working brain.
Students should bring a laptop to class that is Linux/UNIX enabled.
Macs and laptops running Linux are fine.
Mac users need to install the Apple Developer Tools and the associated command line tools
(free, either on the installation disk or from Apple’s Developer web site).
They should also install Macports,
which enables the easy installation of open source software.
Windows users can use Virtualbox
or something equivalent (maybe VMWARE),
and within the virtual environment have a Linux distribution running,
for example: Fedora.
An alternative would be to boot a Linux distribution from a USB memory stick
(see link 006 below or mint).
Instructor:
| Prof. Joachim (Jimmy) Raeder |
| Space Science Center |
| University of New Hampshire |
| 8 College Road |
| Durham, NH 03824-3525 |
| Office: 245G Morse Hall |
| Phone: 603-862-3412 |
| Fax: 603-862-3584 |
| E-Mail: J.Raeder@unh.edu |
Venue:
TR, 8:10 - 9:30, 311 DeMeritt
Communication:
Via e-mail and through this web page. Check often.
Office Hours:
Generally WF 11-12.
If possible, come to the troubleshhoting session Wednesdays, 11-12, in Morse 244.
If that does not work, by appointment (email).
Or come by my office. Although there is no guarantee I'm in and/or available, I'll give my best.
Textbooks:
No text. The class is largely interactive.
For most topics covered, many tutorials and other resources are available on the Web.
For those who wan to delve deeper into numerical math I recommend:
- Press et al., Numerical REcipes (comes in various flavors, and contains much useful code).
As for Perl, C, and Fortran tutorials and manuals, there are numerous books and I cannot recommend one over another.
Amazon reviews are a good source to find out what is good and what is not.
For Students with Disabilities:
Students who require some
accommodation by the instructor because of a disability must contact
as early as possible the instructor and
document the disability through the ACCESS Office.
Any requests for special considerations relating to
attendance, pedagogy, homework, etc., must be discussed with and
approved by the instructor. In cooperation with the DRC, course
materials can be provided in alternative formats (for example, large print,
audio, diskette, or Braille). (ACCESS Office, 118 Memorial Union
Building, Voice/TTY: 603-862-2607 Fax: 603-862-4043.)
Your academic success in this course is very important to me.
If, during the semester, you find emotional or mental health issues are affecting that success,
please contact the University’s (http://www.unhcc.unh.edu/) Counseling Center
(3rd floor, Smith Hall; 603 862-2090/TTY: 7-1-1),
which provides counseling appointments
and other mental health services.
Grading:
- Homework: 70%
- Final project (or take-home exam, if you will): 30%
Homework:
Due dates will be announced with the homework and posted on this site.
Homework (printouts) can either be handed in during class or dropped off into the mailbox in front of my office (245G Morse).
However, I prefer homework files (codes and output) all put together into one directory
named 'HW_NN_YourName', where NN is the number of the HW, tarred into a single file, and e-mailed to me (j.raeder@unh.edu).
Make sure that code is well documented; I need to be able to understand what you do.
Homework that is not turned in by the due date will lose 10 points,
after 1 weeks 30 points, and after 2 weeks it will no longer be accepted. I mean it!
Make sure to write your name on each sheet that you turn in.
All assignments should be done in groups of at most 3 students.
Group work is encouraged. Write down the names of your group partners
at the top of the first sheet of your submission.
If you work in a group, turn in only one copy!
List of homework assignments:
Homework 01: due Tuesday, October 2, 2017
Homework 02: due Thursday, October 12, 2017
Homework 03: due Thursday, October 18, 2017
Homework 04: due Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Homework 05: due Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Homework 06: due Thursday, November 30, 2017
Homework 07: due Thursday, December 7, 2017
Useful sites and documents
001 C-shell tutorial (short)
002 csh tutorial (long)
003 csh long (and a bit funny) tutorial
004 csh cheat sheet PDF
005 Unix cheat sheet PDF
006 Instructions to install 'mint' on a USB drive