Computational Physics Group

This is an IOP special interest group, which is a community of IOP members focused on a particular discipline, application or area of interest.

Special interest groups allow members to connect and share knowledge and ideas. The IOP funds groups to deliver a range of activities including events, prizes and bursaries. All of our groups are driven by members.

About the group

As a special interest, member-driven group, we look at computational physics, which is broadly defined as the science of using computers to:

support physics research
help find solutions to physical problems

Computers have a role in almost every branch of physics. Areas in the scope of computational physics include:

large-scale quantum mechanical calculations in nuclear, atomic, molecular and condensed matter physics
large-scale calculations in fields like hydrodynamics, astrophysics, plasma physics, meteorology and geophysics
simulation and modelling of complex physical systems like those in condensed matter physics, medical physics and industrial applications
experimental data processing and image processing
computer algebra in development and applications
online interactions between physicist and the computer system
encouragement of professional expertise in computational physics in schools and universities

Computational physics

The huge increase in the power of computers has made an impact on the role of computational physics. In some cases, entire problems can now be solved computationally without the need for any experimental input.

Computer graphics and visualisation play an important role in the scientific process. They can provide a greater understanding of physical processes. There have been advances in:

microelectronics
computer science
numerical analysis

These all impact on computational physics.

What the group does

It is important that practitioners of the subject are aware of developments in these fields.

Our membership is currently about 1,150. Members include those working in:

industry
academic institutions
government research organisations

Joining an IOP special interest group

For non-IOP members: Become a member now

For IOP members: Find out how to join a group

Group prize

Annual PhD Thesis Prize

This award is for significant contributions to the advancement of computational physics

Find out more about the Annual PhD Thesis Prize.

Group events

Find events for the Computational Physics Group

Newsletter

Our newsletter produced at least once a year includes events, news of group activities, announcements of meetings and exciting applications of computational physics.

Contribute to the newsletter

Email: [email protected].

Useful links

European Physical Society

Blog

Committee and contacts

Chair	Dr James Uhomoibhi, CPhys MInstP
Secretary	Dr Bart Vorselaars, MInstP
Treasurer	Dr Oisin Creaner, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Alan Dawes, CPhys MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Nikolaos Fytas, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Mr Rohit Goswami, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Janusz Holender, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Richard Hugtenburg, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Mateusz Malenta, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Laura Ratcliff, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Mr Kartik Tiwari
Ordinary Member	Professor Gang Zhang, FInstP

Mailto: [email protected]