1st Edition

Lessons in Scientific Computing Numerical Mathematics, Computer Technology, and Scientific Discovery

By Norbert Schorghofer Copyright 2019
    204 Pages 31 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    204 Pages 31 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this new book provides a modern introduction to scientific computing, exploring numerical methods, computer technology, and their interconnections, which are treated with the goal of facilitating scientific research across all disciplines. Each chapter provides an insightful lesson and viewpoints from several subject areas are often compounded within a single chapter. Written with an eye on usefulness, longevity, and breadth, Lessons in Scientific Computing will serve as a "one stop shop" for students taking a unified course in scientific computing, or seeking a single cohesive text spanning multiple courses.

    Features:

    • Provides a unique combination of numerical analysis, computer programming, and computer hardware in a single text
    • Includes essential topics such as numerical methods, approximation theory, parallel computing, algorithms, and examples of computational discoveries in science
    • Not wedded to a specific programming language

    Chapter 1. Analytical and Numerical Solutions

    Chapter 2. A Few Concepts from Numerical Analysis

    Chapter 3. Roundoff and Number Representation

    Chapter 4. Programming Languages and Tools

    Chapter 5. Sample Problems; Building Conclusions

    Chapter 6. Approximation Theory

    Chapter 7. Other Common Computational Methods

    Chapter 8. Performance Basics and Computer Architectures

    Chapter 9. High-Performance and Parallel Computing

    Chapter 10. The Operation Count; Numerical Linear Algebra

    Chapter 11. Random Numbers and Stochastic Methods

    Chapter 12. Algorithms, Data Structures, and Complexity

    Chapter 13. Data

    Chapter 14. Building Programs for Computation and Data Analysis

    Chapter 15. Crash Course on Partial Differential Equiations

    Chapter 16. Reformulated Problems

    Biography

    Norbert Schörghofer is a Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute and lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. After earning degrees in physics from the University of Vienna and the University of Chicago, he held visiting positions at MIT and Caltech, before moving to the University of Hawaii. His research areas are scientific modelling, planetary science, and astrogeophysics. He has published over 60 peer reviewed publications and has been a reviewer for 30 journals. His research has been featured in New Scientist, National Geographic Magazine, Astronomy Magazine, Huffington Post, and other mass media.

    "The book is a modernized, compact introduction into scientific computing. It combines the various components of the field (numerical analysis, discrete numerical mathematics, computer science, and computational hardware), subjects that are most often taught separately, into one book. The book takes a broad and interdisciplinary approach."
    Hans Benker, Merseburg, in Zentralblatt MATH 1397

    "The short, but insightful and deep book fills a gap in between scientific computing, computer science, numerics, and programming in various languages. I like very much that it does not build on one or the other language, but conveys concepts. I will definitely recommend it to bachelor and master students of any science or engineering major and will use it for teaching myself. "

    Detlef Lohse, Physics of Fluids, University of Twente, The Netherlands

    "In an age when technical information is readily available on the Internet, what should a textbook on scientific computing look like? Norbert Schorghofer has a clear vision: his book provides a basic introduction to an extremely broad set of topics, enough to get a student started, and enough to pique the student's interest in delving deeper, either on the web or with more advanced books. Topics covered range across traditional numerical analysis, programming languages, modeling, computer architectures and parallel computing, and handling big data."

    William H. Press, University of Texas at Austin