Computational physics is the study and implementation of numerical algorithms in order to solve problems in physics for which a quantitative theory already exists.
Physicists often have a very precise mathematical theory describing how a system will behave. Unfortunately, it is often the case that solving the theory's equations ab-initio in order to produce a useful prediction is not realistic. This is especially true with quantum mechanics, where only a handful of simple models can be solved exactly. This is where the computational physicist steps in.
Challenges in Computational Physics
Physics problems are in general very difficult to solve exactly. Even apparently simple problems, such as calculating the wavefunction of an electron orbiting an atom in a strong electric field, may require great effort to formulate a practical algorithm (if one can be found).
In addition, the computational cost of solving quantum mechanical problems is generally exponential in the size of the system (see computational complexity theory). Seeing as a typical macroscopic solid has of the order of 1023 constituent particles, it may be somewhat of an understatement to say this is a bit of a problem.
Many other more general numerical problems fall loosely under the domain of computational physics, although they could easily be considered pure mathematics or part of any number of applied areas. For example:
Recent advances in computational chemistry have led to an explosive growth in a range of applications which span from the modelling of how electrons are arranged in atoms to the structure and properties of molecules and materials such as drug-proteins interactions or catalysts.
Computers are used by physicists to simulate many physics experiments and solve complex equations that arise in theoretrical physics.
Computing has found a home in most areas of physics now (astrophysics, solid state physics, high energy physics, materials physics, etc) and computational physicists with computational and mathematical skills, as well as the usual knowledge of physics, are needed in these areas.
Computationalphysics is the study and implementation of numerical algorithms in order to solve problems in physics for which a quantitative theory already exists.
Computationalphysics borrows a number of ideas from computational chemistry - for example, the density functional theory used by computational physicists to calculate properties of solids is basically the same as that used by chemists to calculate the properties of molecules.
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