Scientific Computing Using Python

PHYS:4905  (Special Topics in Physics) - Fall 2019


News:
Exam #2 will be held in class on November 19.

There will be no class on November 7.

CLAS absence form - If you will be or have been absent from class, please fill out this form, sign it, and bring it and a copy of any related documentation to class as soon as possible.


When:
 Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-1:45 pm
Where:
 201 VAN
What:
 Syllabus   Lectures/Homework
Who:
 Prof. Kaaret
702 Van Allen Hall
319-335-1985
philip-kaaret@uiowa.edu
Office hours: Monday 2-3 pm, Thursday 10-11 am, and Thursday 3:30-4:30 pm or by appointment.

Textbook links:
• Web site for the A Student's Guide to Python for Physical Modeling: Updated Edition by Jesse M. Kinder and Philip Nelson: http://physicalmodelingwithpython.blogspot.com/.
• Linear algebra textbook for the course, Linear Algebra by Cherney, Denton, Thomas, and Waldron: https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/~linear/.

Python resources:
• Python:
  - we will be using Python 3.7 with numpy, matplotlib, ipython, and spyder
  - everything needed is included in Anaconda https://www.anaconda.com/download/
• Interactive, online tutorial: https://www.codecademy.com/catalog/language/python
• NumPy tutorial: http://www.scipy.org/Tentative_NumPy_Tutorial
• General tutorials on Python: http://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/
• Matplotlib tutorial: http://matplotlib.org/users/pyplot_tutorial.html
• Matplotlib site with many examples: http://matplotlib.org
• Python official web site: http://www.python.org/
• PyFits official site: http://www.stsci.edu/institute/software_hardware/pyfits
• PyFITS documentation: http://pythonhosted.org/pyfits/
• Python for Astronomers: http://www.astropython.org/
• Question and answer site for programming: http://stackoverflow.com
•  A Primer on Scientific Programming with Python, by Hans Petter Langtangen, Springer. available as a free download to UI students
• The Python Quick Syntax Reference, Gregory Walters, available as a free download to UI students

Linear algebra resources available free to UI students:
• Linear Algebra: A Course for Physicists and Engineers by Arak M. Mathai and Hans J. Haubold: https://www.degruyter.com/viewbooktoc/product/495839.
• Linear Algebra Done Right, by Axler.