Computer Simulation and Computer Algebra: Lectures for Beginners

This text is based on the authors' broad experience in teaching the application of computers to physics. It takes the reader from the introductory simulation of classical mechanical problems (part one) to current research in statistical physics. The Ising model, cellular automata, percolation, Eden clusters and the Kauffman model are presented with exercises and programs for hands-on use with the aim of enabling and encouraging the student to write her/his own programs. The third part gives a detailed course into algebraic formula manipulation using the computer algebra system REDUCE, again with numerous examples and exercises. These "lectures for beginners" do not require any previous knowledge of computer languages, but a brief introduction to FORTRAN and BASIC can be found in the appendix.