The author has provided a very valuable, comprehensive reference for users of public domain key programming languages. Undergraduate and graduate students in physical sciences and engineering and working scientists will benefit from this short course on computational science.
The book covers object-oriented programming and physical system modeling with a good foundation in numerical analysis. Important characteristics of C++, Java and Octave—a free public domain programming language, are demonstrated through short examples with an emphasis on implementation and software-specific issues.
Beyond the basic numerical analysis, the reader will find techniques for the discrete Fourier transform and a variety of Monte Carlo simulation methods with respect to particle simulations and the Ising model. A chapter on the numerical treatment of partial differential equations also covers symplectic evolution operators in classical mechanics and Fast Fourier Transform methods in optics.
Review by Axel Mainzer Koenig, CEO, 21st Century Data Analysis, a division of Koenig & Associates, Inc. Portland, Ore., U.S.A.
The opinions expressed in the book review section are those of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect those of OPN or OSA.
Book Reviews
A Short Course in Computational Science and Engineering: C++, Java and Octave Numerical Programming with Free Software Tools
Publish Date: 24 January 2013