Gould H., Tobochnik J., Christian W. An introduction to computer simulation methods: Applications to Physical Systems

Pearson/Addison Wesley, 2006. — 796 p. (ISBN: 0-8053-7758-1)Computer simulations are now an integral part of contemporary basic and applied physics, and computation has become as important as theory and experiment. The ability to compute is now part of the essential repertoire of research scientist.Since writing the first two editions of our text, more courses devoted to the study of physics using computers have been introduced into physics curriculum, and many more traditional courses are incorporating numerical examples. We are gratified to see that our text has helped shape these innovations. The purpose of our book includes the following:To provide a means for student to do physics;
To give students an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the physics they have learned in other courses;
To encourage students to „discover“ physics in a way similar to how physicists learn in the context of research;
To introduce numerical methods and new areas of physics that can be studied with these methods;
To give examples of how physics can be applied in a much broader context than what is discussed in the traditional physics undergraduate curriculum;
To teach object-oriented programming in the context of doing science.Tools for Doing Simulation
Simulating Particle Motion
Oscillatory Systems
Few-Body Problems: The Motion of the Planets
The Chaotic Motion of Dynamical Systems
Random Processes
The Dynamics of Many-Particle Systems
Normal Modes and Waves
Electrodynamics
Numerical and Monte Carlo Methods
Percolation
Fractals and Kinetic Growth Models
Complex Systems
Monte Carlo Simulations of Thermal Systems
Quantum Systems
Visualization and Rigid Body Dynamics
Seeing in Special and General Relativity
Epilogue: The Unity of Physics