First time asking a question here. As per the title I'm trying to find a decent book that serves as an introduction to computational methods used in physics. A little background on myself will help understanding my problem: I'm a PhD student in experimental physics, recently I found myself dealing with a lot of works dealing with electron and phonon bandstructure calculations (mostly using DFT methods). I find these work really useful and fascinating, but there's a problem: I don't really understand what they are doing. So I'd like to close this gap by learning more on computational methods in  physics, especially methods useful in condensed matter (as bandstructure calculations, for example). I know there are plenty of good books and reviews on the topic, but I find it difficult to relate the integrals and formulae written in these books to actual code. My question in simple words is: do you know any book, online course, lecture notes, review that explain some of these concepts with practical examples? I have the feeling that once I've seen few of them I would be able to kick off by myself. Thank you
18755
Can anyone recommend some good textbooks for undergraduate level computational physics course? I am using numerical recipe but find it not a very good textbook.
72624
Most periodic density functional theory (DFT) codes use plane-wave basis sets in conjunction with three-dimensional periodic boundary conditions. In contrast, for molecular systems of finite size, Gaussian basis sets are often used. The former are quite efficient for periodic systems, but more expensive methods such as hybrid functionals become intractable for large system sizes. The latter is well-suited for finite clusters but rarely is appropriate for periodic systems.   uses a mixed Gaussian and plane-wave approach (GAPW) for periodic systems.  models periodic systems using atom-centered Gaussian functions.  expresses wavefunctions in real space, avoiding explicit basis sets.  What are some positives and negatives of these alternate approaches, when compared to more conventional periodic DFT packages?
70496
What is a good textbook on statistical field theory,  with an emphasis on applications to non-equilibrium phenomena?  I am a final-year undergraduate, have already taken introductory classes in statistical physics and quantum mechanics but do not know a lot of quantum field theory yet. I would like to better understand nonequilibrium phenomena, phase transitions and spontaneous symmetry breaking in condensed matter systems.
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EDIT:  I was aware of the supposed duplicate.  But I'm interested in a clear and focused path through the basics to advanced theoretical physics such as string theory - a path that avoids studying engineering physics - for a pure mathematician with no physics background.  I can't see in the supposed duplicate where this path is outlined.  ...  I'm a pure mathematics PhD student in Riemannian geometry / geometric analysis.  My main interests are in Einstein manifolds, Ricci flow, harmonic maps, and Yang-Mills theory.    I have no training whatsoever in physics:  I've never even picked up the typical 1,500 page textbook titled Physics for Scientists and Engineers etc.  I've only ever read pure mathematics and can handle any level of pure mathematics to any level of abstraction.  I'd like to learn the background and basics in theoretical physics motivating the above areas of geometric analysis to develop physical intuition: general relativity, gauge field theories, and the standard model of particle physics, etc.  Ideally I also want to learn advanced theoretical physics such as quantum field theory, string theory, and sypersymmetry.  I'd like a structured path through basic to advanced theoretical physics for a mathematician with no physics training.  I have looked at many standard references in these areas but their assumptions on the physics background of the reader does not align with my background.  These standard references all start talking and explaining things in physics notation, terminology, concepts, and intuition that is assumed on the reader.  Question:  As a pure mathematician, how do I learn basic through to advanced theoretical physics in an clear, focused and structured way?  What books should I read?  Are there books tailored to a target audience like myself: a pure mathematician with no physics background?  If required, I'm happy to start from scratch by working through a 1,500 page physics textbooks.  However, after progressing through mathematics one realises that starting with working through the typical 1,500 page calculus textbook, such as Stewart Calculus, is unnecessary because those books are tailored to engineers.  Instead, one can start with a book on set theory, proof, and logic, and then go straight into standard undergraduate books like Rudin Principals of Mathematical Analysis and Herstein Topics in Algebra, etc.  Indeed, many universities offer a streamlined program of study for pure mathematics majors that avoids wasting time on engineering calculus.  Question:  Is it the same situation in physics?  Are those 1,500 page physics textbooks targeted mostly at engineers and is there a focused and streamlined path through theoretical physics that starts at the start of theoretical physics and gets to advanced theoretical physics such as quantum field theory and string theory without having to learn engineering physics?  I would be VERY grateful for someone to provide some book recommendations and possibly a structured path for achieving the above.
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I am looking for references (books or web links) which have "simple" examples on the use of group theory in physics or science in general.   I have looked at many books on the subject unfortunately they usually require extensive technical coverage of the basics, i.e. the 1st 100 pages or something, to be able to start discussing applications.  I believe that there is an easy way to explain anything (it's just hard to find it).
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What are the best textbooks to read for the mathematical background you need for modern physics, such as, string theory?  Some subjects off the top of my head that probably need covering:   Differential geometry, Manifolds, etc. Lie groups, Lie algebras and their representation theory. Algebraic topology.
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Could someone experienced in the field tell me what the minimal math knowledge one must obtain in order to grasp the introductory Quantum Mechanics book/course?  I do have math knowledge but I must say, currently, kind of a poor one. I did a basic introductory course in Calculus, Linear algebra and Probability Theory. Perhaps you could suggest some books I have to go through before I can start with QM?
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seems like a really hot topic and I'd like to start reading about. I am looking for the best introduction at my level, i.e. I have a background in QFT, CFT and general relativity at the level of a master student in theoretical physics. What would you recommend me to start tackling the subject? I have been looking for resources and so far I have noticed:  -this synthetic introductory lectures by Horatiu Nastase:   -the videos of lectures done by P. Vieira at Perimeter for Perimeter Scholar International students:   -the subject starts entering the most recent textbooks on string theory. We have the Schwartz and Becker (  ) and also the Kiritsis (  )  I probably missed a lot of resources, as the literature on the subject is already quite huge. I would really appreciate some advice on that, as I already had the frustration of losing my time on not-so-good books when started to learn something new, so if I could (to the best) avoid that this time...
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I am hoping you can give me some suggestions. I am teaching in a very diverse (made of minority groups) college and the students are mostly Psychology majors. Most students are fresh from high school but some of them are older returning students above 40. Most of the students have motivational problems and aversion to math. But I am still looking for a book that covers the basic curriculum: from descriptive to sampling and testing all the way to ANOVA, and all in the context of experimental methods. The department requires me to use SPSS in class, but I like the idea of building the analysis in a spreadsheet such as excel.  p.s. the other teachers use a book that I don't like because of the extensive reliance on computational formulae. I find using these computational formulas - rather than the more intuitive and computationally intensive formula that is consistent with the rational and basic algorithm- unintuitive, unnecessary and confusing. This is the book I refer to Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, 7th Edition Frederick J Gravetter State University of New York, Brockport Larry B. Wallnau State University of New York, Brockport ISBN-10: 049581220X Thank you for reading!
65204
I was asked to read about Graph Theory. First got the book "Graph Theory with Applications" by Bondy and Murty. As a Computer Science student its becoming difficult to read and understand. Then I started reading "Graph Theory-Modeling, Applications and Algorithms" by Agnarsson and Greenlaw. They presented the same topics little bit easier but from a different point of view. I found the definitions are bit different. But they essentially mean the same.  I am looking for some books on Graph Theory for a Computer Science student from a beginner point of view. I am looking for books like "Graph Theory-Modeling, Applications and Algorithms".
89160
The  is a well-known and very useful tool for solving problems in electrostatics.  Unfortunately, when I was taught this method, it was presented simply as an algorithm. No real physical justification was given for its usage, and there was a complete absence of rigorous mathematics. The method has always been a little hazy to me since.  If someone could give a rigorous first-principles derivation of this method from Maxwell's equations (perhaps simply Coulomb's law?), it would be most appreciated.
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I want to start looking at the . I've heard very interesting things about it but would like to clear some things up first.   I taken QFT at the level of Peskin &amp; Schroeder, written a bachelors thesis on quantum integrability, know complex analysis up to things like mobius transformations and conformal mappings, functional analysis and algebraic topology. Then stuff like EM with Jackson and QM with Merzbacher's books etc.   What resources are best for working up to the conformal bootstrap?   From what I've seen the bootstrap seems to be heavily numerical. I'm extremely used to exact analytical expressions so would like to know the use of the bootstrap, particularly in relation to N=4 SYM (recently looked through a paper on this topic but it was above my level) or even general QFT.
111229
Hello Physics StackExchange!  I will put the TL;DR in the beginning: I need a self contained, relatively hand-holding sequence of textbooks that covers up from the end of Griffith's Intro to QM to relativistic QM/particle physics to QFT.    This will be my first post. I'm a medical physics grad student who majored in biomedical engineering for my undergrad, with serious regrets about not doing math/physics double major in hindsight. Oh well. I've made it my goal to eventually understand QFT.  My background in relevant subjects is Calc 1 to 3 and Diff EQ, 2 part freshman physics, an E&amp;M course that used Griffiths Electrodynamics, a summer of self studying Griffith's QM (got most of the way through). I will also be officially taking a class in QM using Griffith's textbook this next spring. I am aware of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian approaches to mechanics as well. In addition I have familiarity with special and basic general relativity using tensors and all this. What would be the best way for me to get from where I am now to a strong understanding of QFT autodidactically? I have no aversion to studying pure maths where I need to.  EDIT: My question is much different than simply asking for a handholding explanation of QFT. Generally these textbooks assume a certain amount of physics/math background, and I was asking for a sequence of textbooks leading up to QFT from the end of a specific textbook, Griffith's QM. Did you even read my question? Did you read the thing you linked me to?
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I'd like some suggestions for good reading materials on the Keldysh formalism in the condensed matter physics community. I'm familiar with the imaginary time, coherent state, and path integral formalisms, but lately, I've been seeing Keldysh more and more in papers. My understanding is that it is superior to the imaginary time formalism at least in that one can evaluate non-equilibrium expectations.
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Though there are several posts discussing the reference books for topology, for example . But as far as I looked up to, all of them are for the purpose of learning topology or rather on introductory level.  I am wondering if there is a book or a set of books on topology like Rudin's analysis books, S.Lang's algebra, Halmos' measure (or to be more updated, Bogachev's measure theory), etc, serving as standard references.  Probably, such a book should hold characteristics such as being self-contained, covering the most of classical results, and other good properties you can name.  In the end, I only have the interest on general-topology (topological space, metrization, compactification...), and optionally differential topology (manifolds). So please don't divert into algebraic context.  Cheers.  ---------------------update-----------------------  Thanks for all the delightful replies. I will try to quickly check the books mentioned beneath. And I may accept the answer which is most closed to my personal flavor.  Sorry for others. It's a pity no multiple acceptance can be made for such a ref-request question.  Greetings.
12161
It's coming up to Christmas so I can ask to have all the books I can't afford from begrudging relatives! I'm really interested (mainly from looking at some of the answers cleo and other fantastic users!) in being able to approach integrals from a variety of different ways and learning how to tackle  non-elementary integrals.   I've gone over a lot of the standard techniques in my undergrad and this is just for a hobby, so don't want anything too 'heavy', just great explanations and a lot of questions to tackle. So far I've found Irresistible Integrals: Symbolics, Analysis and Experiments in the Evaluation of Integrals. Many thanks.
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I know classical physics, quantum mechanics, special relativity, and basic nuclear physics. I would like to get into some particle physics.   Where can I find a good introduction? It might be useful to segment books by whether they require quantum field theory or not.