3090 - Methods in theoretical physics (Fall 2018)
This class will be a smorgasbord of different mathematical tools and concepts that are essential for the study of advanced topics in physics. Syllabus: see course description.
Course text: None required. Recommended text: Arfken, Weber, Harris.
Grading and tests: There will be weekly homework assignments (25%), weekly in-class assignments (15%), two midterm tests (15% each), and a final exam (30%).
Homework: Solving problems is the most essential part of this class. Assignments will be due on Wednesdays either in class or turned into my office (or under my door) before 4pm. See course description for late policy.
Homework assignments (due Wednesdays by 4pm):
problem set #1 - due Sept. 19th.
problem set #2 - due Sept. 26th.
problem set #3 - due Oct. 3rd.
problem set #4 - due Oct. 24th.
problem set #5 - due Nov. 7th.
problem set #6 - due Nov. 14th.
problem set #7 - due Dec. 3rd
Midterms: First midterm: Mon., Oct. 15th in class. Second midterm: Fri., Nov. 23rd in class.
Final exam: TBD.
Office hours: Mondays 2-3pm or by appointment. My office is Petrie room 217.
Lecture time/date/location: Life Sciences Building (LSB) Room 107, MWF, 9:30am.
Course notes:
Week 1 - Introduction to complex numbers and functions.
Week 2 - Derivatives and integrals of complex functions. Cauchy's theorem.
Week 3 - Singularities. Residue theorem.
Week 4 - Laurent expansion. Applications of the residue theorem.
Week 6 - Fourier series.
Week 7 - Laplace transform.
Week 8 - Fourier transform.
Week 10 - Coupled systems and eigenvalue problems.
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