Physics 311
Mathematical Methods in Physics
Fall 2018
Instructor: Sriram Ganeshan, Marshak 313 x6085, sganeshan@ccny.cuny.edu
Class hours: T-Th 4:00 to 5:40 Office hours: TBA
Text: Mathematical Methods for Physicists: A Comprehensive Guide
By George Brown Arfken, Hans-Jurgen Weber, Frank E. Harris
Prerequisites: Mathematics 39100-39200 and Physics 20700-20800
The following topics will be covered: Linear vector spaces, Ordinary differential equations, eigenvalue problems, partial differential equations and its application to heat flow problems, special functions, complex variable theory, Probability and statistics (if time permits.).
Attempt will be made to solve some problems using numerical algorithms.
The sequence of topic covered is roughly based on:
0. Preliminaries
1. Linear vector spaces,
2. Eigenvalue problems
3. Ordinary differential equations
4. Partial differential equation – classification and boundary conditions
5. Special functions
6. Complex variable theory
7. Probability and Statistics.
Grades in the course will be based on
weekly problems sets - 1/3 of grade
two in-class exams - 1/3 of grade
final exam - 1/3 of grade
