PH562 – Mathematical Physics
Fall 2018
Instructor: Weihong Qiu, Ph.D;
Office: Weniger
371;
Email:
Weihong.Qiu@physics.oregonstate.edu
Homepage: dyne.physics.oregonstate.edu
Class times: MWF 11:00-11:50 am, WNGR 201
Course credits: 3
Office hours: Thursday 3-4pm Weniger 371; additional hours can be arranged by email.
Textbooks:
Required:
§
“Mathematical
Physics” by Eugene Butkov.
Optional:
▪
“Mathematical
Methods for Physicists: A Comprehensive Guide” by G. Arfken
and H. Weber.
▪
“Methods of Mathematical Physics, Volume I
& II”, by R. Courant and D. Hilbert.
▪
“Methods
of Theoretical Physics, Parts 1 and 2” by P.M. Morse and H. Feshbach.
▪
“Mathematical
Physics: A Modern Introduction to Its Foundations”, 2nd edition by S.
Hassani.
General:
New
students enter the physics graduate program with different mathematical
backgrounds. Not everybody comes directly out of college. The goal of this
course is to get you to think about mathematics again, but in the context of
skills needed as a physics graduate student.
The goals of this course
are:
▪
To
become familiar with some mathematical techniques used in the graduate classes.
▪
To
understand the background and context of these mathematical methods, and to
know when they apply and when not.
▪
To
analyze models in physics and relate to mathematical methods.
Specifically,
we will cover topics in the following chapters of “Mathematical Physics” by
Eugene Butkov:
Chapters
1 (Vectors, Matrics, and Coordinates);
2
(Functions of a Complex Variable);
3
(Linear Differential Equations of Second Order);
4
(Fourier Series);
5 (The
Laplace Transformation);
7
(Fourier Transforms);
8
(Partial Differential Equations);
9
(Special Functions)
12
(Green’s Functions)
13
(Variational Methods)
Course
Work:
▪
Homework
should be turned on the day it is due. I will drop your lowest homework score,
which allows you to skip one homework assignment without any penalty. Many
people will have a week where too many things are getting in the way of
homework. The “drop-one-homework-score” policy is meant to give you some
flexibility.
▪
This
is a mathematical physics class, and homework solutions should be presented in
analytical form, and not be obtained from packages, such as Mathematica and Matlab, unless stated differently. Of course, those
packages are very important, and I would certainly encourage using them to
check answers.
▪
Science
is inherently a social and collaborative effort. Nevertheless, each student
must ultimately be responsible for his or her own education. Therefore, you are
expected to abide by a number of ground rules:
a)
We
strongly encourage students to work with each other, more advanced students,
and the professor, when they get stuck on assignments. Each student, however,
is expected to turn in assignments that have been independently written up
(unless instructed differently). In other words, the final synthesis must be
entirely your own. This applies also to, and especially to, computer-generated
worksheets. If you work with someone on a computer project, do not get locked
in to writing the solution together. You will end up turning in the same
assignment.
b)
Sources
must be appropriately documented. If you find a homework problem worked out
somewhere (other than homework solutions from previous years), you may
certainly use that resource. Just make sure you reference it properly. If
someone else helps you solve a problem, mention that too. In a research paper,
the appropriate reference would be Jane Doe (private communication).
c)
Plagiarism
– representing someone else's work as your own – is unethical, but
collaboration and exchange of ideas is healthy. You can avoid collaborative
efforts taking on the look of plagiarism by acknowledging sources and by
writing up your work independently.
d)
If
you find that you have worked on a problem for an hour without making any
progress, it would be a good idea to stop and seek help.
Course
Evaluation:
40% Homework Assignment
(6 homework)
30% Midterm
30% Final
Students
with Disabilities
Accommodations for students with disabilities are
determined and approved by Disability Access Services (DAS). If you, as a
student, believe you are eligible for accommodations but have not obtained
approval please contact DAS immediately at 541-737-4098 or at http://ds.oregonstate.edu. DAS
notifies students and faculty members of approved academic accommodations and
coordinates implementation of those accommodations. While not required,
students and faculty members are encouraged to discuss details of the
implementation of individual accommodations.”
Statement
of Expectations for Student Conduct
http://studentlife.oregonstate.edu/code
Diversity
Statement
The College of Health and Human Sciences strives to
create an affirming climate for all students including underrepresented and
marginalized individuals and groups. Diversity encompasses differences in age,
color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, physical or mental ability,
religion, socioeconomic background, veteran status, sexual orientation, and
marginalized groups. We believe diversity is the synergy, connection,
acceptance, and mutual learning fostered by the interaction of different human
characteristics.
Religious
Holidays
Oregon State University strives to respect all
religious practices. If you have
religious holidays that are in conflict with any of the requirements of this
class, please see me immediately so that we can make alternative arrangements.