CHEM 7870 - Mathematical Methods of Physical Chemistry

Fall. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: one year of undergraduate physical chemistry, three semesters of calculus, and one year of college physics. The course is suitable for graduate students in chemistry and related fields, and for motivated undergraduates, including but not limited to chemistry majors. Offered at the level of Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences by Boas and Mathematical Methods for Scientists and Engineers by McQuarrie.

R. A. DiStasio.

This course will provide the mathematical background needed for graduate level study of topics in physical chemistry, such as quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics, as well as a set of analytical and computational tools useful for research in both experimental and theoretical physical chemistry.

Topics include: infinite and power series; complex numbers and functions; linear algebra; partial differentiation; multiple integrals; vector analysis; Fourier series and transforms; ordinary and partial differential equations; calculus of variations; tensor analysis; special functions; probability and statistics; scientific programming.