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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2014/2015
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Physics and Astronomy : Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy)

Undergraduate Course: Numerical Recipes (PHYS10090)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Physics and Astronomy CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThe main aim of this course is to develop an understanding of how numerical computations are implemented in practice. It will introduce the simplest
ways to implement functionality and then show how to achieve the same using library packages. There will be significant hands-on programming in Java. It is also intended to provide an opportunity for specialists to use a different language (this year either Python or C++).
Course description This course is taught through a combination of hands-­on programming exercises in the CPLab. Two routes will be offered through the checkpoints: a Java-­only route, and a multilingual route (aimed at specialists). At present students may elect to use Python or C++ subject to the agreement of the course organiser.

The course material will include:

- Matrices and matrix manipulation
- Minimisation methods
- Parameter fitting to data sets ( Chi squared and maximum likelihood)
- Random number generation, non uniform distributions
- Monte Carlo data set generation
- Simulation and analysis of a muon decay lifetime experiment
- Discrete fourier transforms
- Other numerical topics
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Computer Simulation (PHYS08026) OR Computer Modelling (PHYS09057)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Proficiency in JAVA.
Students must be able to prove proficiency in Java and use of a Unix environment.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 10, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 33, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 55 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) The course will be 100% assessed through coursework consisting:

1. Checkpoints during the workshop sessions

2. A final exercise which will include the writing of code, a user manual for the code, and an accompanying report presenting the results of running the code.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
- Implement simple versions of standard numerical algorithms in a computer pro-gram

- Implement the same functionality using widely available numerical library packages

- To gain a practical grounding in how to deal with dealing with and analyzing data which arises in a real physics research environment.

- Resolve conceptual and technical difficulties by locating and integrating relevant information from a diverse range of sources
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNRec
Contacts
Course organiserProf Peter Clarke
Tel:
Email: peter.clarke@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Bonnie Macmillan
Tel: (0131 6)50 5905
Email: Bonnie.MacMillan@ed.ac.uk
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