Welcome to the web page for the course "Mathematical Methods of Physics I".
This course deals with advanced mathematics and its application to problem-solving.
Topics will include: ODE, complex analysis, method of steepest descend, linear algebra, special
functions, partial differential equations and geometry.
News: The final is scheduled for Tuesday Dec 9, 3:30--5:30 in ENPH 215.
Notes:
Additional notes:
Laplacian in spherical coordinates
Slides on method of steepest descend
Homework:
Week 1 (8/25--8/27): Homework, Solutions
Week 2 (9/1--9/3):Homework, Solutions.
Week 3 (9/8--9/10): Homework, Solutions.
Week 4 (9/15--9/17): , Homework, Solutions.
Week 5 (9/22--9/24): Homework, Solutions.
Week 6 (9/29--10/1): Homework, Solutions.
Week 7 (10/6--10/8): Homework, Solutions.
Week 8 (13/6--15/8): Midterm
Week 9 (10/20--10/22): Homework, Solutions.
Week 10 (10/27--10/29): Homework, Solutions.
Week 11 (11/3--11/5): Homework, Solutions.
Week 12 (11/10-11/12): Homework, Solutions.
Week 13 (11/17-11/19): Homework, Solutions.
Email: kbecker@physics.tamu.edu
Office: ENPH 527
Phone: 458-4548
Office hours: Fridays at 3pm or by appointment.
2. Grader
Yu-Chieh Chung, Email: ycchung@physics.tamu.edu; Office: Mondays 10:30--12:30 PM, R532.
Guangyu Guo, Email: guangyu@physics.tamu.edu; Office: Tuesdays 3:00-5:00, Blocker 526.
3. Class meetings
Location: ENPH 215
Time: MW: 1:50 PM -- 3:30 PM
4. Course Outline
The tentative outline of the course includes: differential equations, complex analysis, method of steepest descend, integral transforms, linear algebra and finite dimensional vector spaces, special functions, usage of Greens functions and eigenfunctions to solve differential equations, geometry and group theory.
5. References
Some references are (more will be added)
Mathematical methods of physics, by J. Mathews and R. L. Walker
Introduction to mathematical physics, by M. T. Vaughn
Mathematical Methods for physicists, by G. B. Arfken and H. J. Weber.
Tables of integral series and products, by L. S. Gradshteyn and I. M. Ryzhik.
6. Course requirements
Grading: HW 50%, Midterm 25%, Final 25%.