Learn to master differential equations and special functions in this graduate level course. In this advanced math course, you will learn how to build solutions to important differential equations in physics and their asymptotic expansions. Armed with the tools mastered in this course, you will have a solid command of the methods of tackling differential equations and integrals encountered in theoretical and applied physics and material science.
Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.
The course is for engineering and physics majors. The course instructors are active researchers in theoretical solid-state physics.
What you'll learn
- Basics of asymptotic expansions.
- Special functions.
- Saddle point techniques.
- Laplace method of solving differential equations with linear coefficients illustrated on.
- Stokes phenomenon.
- Mellin transformation.
Course Syllabus
Week 1: Asymptotic series. Introduction.
- Asymptotic series as approximation of definite integrals.
- Examples, optimal summation Taylor vs asymptotic expansions.
Week 2: Laplace-type integrals and stationary phase approximations.
- Zero term and full Laplace asymptotic series.
- Asymptotics of Error and Fresnel integrals.
Week 3: Euler Gamma and Beta-functions, analytic continuation and asymptotics.
- Euler Gamma function: definition, functional equation and analytic continuation.
- Hankel representation for Gamma-function.
- Beta and digamma functions.
- Asymptotic expansions.
- Application of Gamma functions for the computation of integrals.
Week 4. Saddle point approximation I
- Introduction to the method of saddle point approximation.
- The search for optimal deformation of the contour.
- Full asymptotic series.
- Elementary applications of the saddle point approximation.
Week 5. Saddle point approximation II
- Subtleties of a contour deformation.
- Contribution of end points.
- Higher order saddles.
- Coalescent saddle and pole.
Week 6. Differential equations with linear coefficients. Laplace method I
- Construction of the solution of the differential equations with linear coefficients in terms of Laplace type contour integrals.
- Examples of solutions of second order differential equations
- The general outline of the technique.
Week 7. Physical applications
- 1D Coulomb potential
- Harmonic oscillator, method 1
- Restricted harmonic oscillator
- Harmonic oscillator, method 2
Week 8. Stokes Phenomenon in asymptotic series and WKB approximation in Quantum Mechanics
- Solution of Airy's equation by asymptotic series.
- WKB approximation for solution of wave equations.
- Asymptotics of Airy's function in the complex plane.
- Stokes phenomenon.
Week 9. Differential equations with linear coefficients. Laplace method II (higher order equations)
- Solutions of the differential equations of higher order by Laplace method.
- More complicated examples.
- Killer problems
Week 10. Final Exam
