Department of Physics, University of
Utah
Course Number: Physics 6740 (4)
Course Title: Mathematical Methods of
Physics
- REPRESENTATIVE TEXTBOOK
- Mathematical Methods of Physics, by Mathews and Walker
- COURSE DESCRIPTION
- This is a course in the application of advanced mathematical techniques to solving scientific
problems. This is the first in a two semester sequence of closely related courses.
- PRE-REQUISITE
- Students must be familiar with multivariable calculus (partial derivatives, multiple integrals)
and should have taken a course (not necessarily physics) in which some partial differential
equations (e.g., Laplace's equation) arose in a scientific context. Although the course includes an
introduction/review of complex variables, it is assumed that the student has some familiarity with
complex variables.
- OTHER COMMENTS
- Ideally, Physics 6740 and 6750 should be taken as a sequence. One or more of the topics
from 6740 may be deferred to 6750. Also, a subject started in 6740 may be continued into 6750.
- MANDATORY TOPICS
- Topic 1:
- The Calculus of Complex Variables (through the use of residues, dispersion relations,
conformal transformations, etc.) 4 weeks
- Topic 2:
- Ordinary Differential Equations 3 weeks
- Topic 3:
- Infinite Sequences, Series and Products 0.5 weeks
- Topic 4:
- Evaluation of Integrals 3 weeks
- Topic 5:
- Fourier Series, Integral Transforms, Delta Functions 1.5 weeks
- Topic 6:
- Special Functions 3 weeks
- Links to exisiting web page for this course:
- Currently does not exist.
-
Prepared by Richard Price (3/19/99)