Physics & Computer Science

patric_k

Hello all,

I'm interested in pursuing a degree in physics next year, and I was hoping for your feedback on some particular issues.
If possible, I'd like to pursue a degree programme which would equip the candidates with at least some proficiency in computer science (programming, etc.).
In light of this, I have spotted a number of possible degree programmes. The most likely programmes in this field are: Physics & Computer Science (obviously!) and Computational Physics.
The object of this post is threefold. To ascertain the following:
1) Has anybody had any experience in either of these two fields (Physics & Computer Science or Computational Physics)? If so, have you any feedback?
2) In trying to accommodate two subjects, would I end up "falling between two stools"? (i.e. Would I forego the opportunity to specialize in either subject, and, therefore, be at a disadvantage?)
3) Has anybody else got any other general feedback?


Thanks in advance!;)

Kevster

I imagine that any degree in physics these days would include some level of computer science as part of it. Computer sciences is permeating 'every' field these days. I suppose it depends on the type of physics you want to get into too. I briefly worked with lasers, but there was little programming directly related to that. However, I also worked in computational chemistry, which involved using software to 'predict' chemical structures and how certain compounds would 'break' apart upon excitation (with a laser). You could always just email the course co-ordinator and ask him/her about it.

Kevin

PS - i'm now a geneticist!

entropic

What Kevster said, I would imagine that there is going to be some computer programming in every physics course. Computer modelling and using a computer to solve equations is vital in physics.

I am in second year of applied physics in Limerick and we have done some Pascal and Java already while next year we will be doing C++ and CAD/MATLAB, and then we do even more in fourth year.

If you are looking for something in between Physics and Computer Science, then your best bet is to do the Physics first as that will give you some programming experience before maybe doing a post-grad in it, whereas if you comp science there wouldn't be too much physics in it so you would have to go back and do it from scratch if you were so inclined after the degree.

Morbert

patric_k wrote: »

Hello all,

I'm interested in pursuing a degree in physics next year, and I was hoping for your feedback on some particular issues.
If possible, I'd like to pursue a degree programme which would equip the candidates with at least some proficiency in computer science (programming, etc.).
In light of this, I have spotted a number of possible degree programmes. The most likely programmes in this field are: Physics & Computer Science (obviously!) and Computational Physics.
The object of this post is threefold. To ascertain the following:
1) Has anybody had any experience in either of these two fields (Physics & Computer Science or Computational Physics)? If so, have you any feedback?
2) In trying to accommodate two subjects, would I end up "falling between two stools"? (i.e. Would I forego the opportunity to specialize in either subject, and, therefore, be at a disadvantage?)
3) Has anybody else got any other general feedback?


Thanks in advance!;)

Hi,

Good to hear that you are interested in Computational Physics. We're the coolest type of physicist by far. I have a BSc in Physics, an MSc in High Performance Computing, and am currently undertaking a PhD in computational physics so should hopefully be able to answer any questions.

Computer Science (CS) can complement a physics degree well, provided you have some control over what aspects of CS are undertaken. By taking computer science along with physics, you would hope to learn how to work in a unix environment, how to program with ForTran and C programming languages, how files and "libraries" (such as linear algebra libraries) link together, timing issues and parallel CPU environments, maybe some computer architecture etc. The trouble is CS also involves lots of other subjects like Java programming that would be less useful. So it would be good if you could do a double honours program where some of those topics are omitted.

Physics degrees generally do have modules in Computational Physics. Often these focus on the actual physical issues, like finite difference approximations or nonlinear dynamics, and less on computing environments. In my undergrad, Comp Phys was taught using Matlab in the theoretical physics department, and a C environment called LabWindows in the experimental physics department. Experience with C (or better yet ForTran) is very important, as they are the languages of choice for computational physicists.

By doing both at undergrad level, you certainly wouldn't be closing any doors, and you can always move on to specialise in either field (or neither) at a later stage.

SkepticOne

Morbert wrote: »

Experience with C (or better yet ForTran) is very important, as they are the languages of choice for computational physicists.

Just out of interest, which version of Fortran tends to be used these days?

Morbert

SkepticOne wrote: »

Just out of interest, which version of Fortran tends to be used these days?

Fortran 90/95 is generally used. Though there is a lot of fortran 77 code floating around. Until recently fortran 90 compilers could be quite expensive, and, unlike software engineers, computational physicists have little interest in updating such software.