The purpose of the "Computational Project"
is to provide an opportunity for you to
study a topic of your choice in greater depth. The general guideline for
your choice of project is that it should have something to do with
electrodynamics, and there should be some degree of computation or analysis
with the project. The completed project will include a short write-up
and a ~20min presentation to the class. You may design your own project
or use one of the following list (which will be updated throughout the term).
Evaluate the Ewald sum of various ionic crystals using Maple or
a programing language. (Template available in Fortran code.)
Work out the details of the finite difference or finite element
methods.
Work out the details of the hyperfine Hamiltonian as discussed
in Chapter 5 of Jackson.
Work out the details of Jackson problem 7.2 and related problems.
Work out the details of reflection and refraction from birefringent
materials.
Analyze the Kramers-Kronig transform of some optical data or calculations.
Determine the classical electrodynamics associated with an infrared
or optical laser.
Analyze the radiation intensity and spectrum from an interesting
source such as an atomic or molecular transition, a free electron laser, etc.