From: bell@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov (E. V. Bell, II - NSSDC/HSTX/GSFC/NASA - (301)513-1663)
Subject: Re: Computational Physics Graduate Work
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 15:02:00 GMT

In article <1992Jul23.205605.1951@mdd.comm.mot.com>, oldenbur@mdd.comm.mot.com (Steven Oldenbur) writes...
>1) Do any schools offer "Computational Physics" graduate degrees?
>   What sort of research would be conducted in such a program?

	My alma mater (the University of Kansas) has a master of 
	science program in computational physics. Research can be
	conducted in any field of physics research conducted in the
	department provided that you can find a professor willing to
	guide you. The department contains space plasma physicists (my
	specialty), high energy physicists (theoretical and 
	experimental), astronomers, a cosmologist, at least one
	meteorologist (maybe more by now...it's been a few years since
	I've been there), and other more "conventional" fields in
	physics. (I'm not trying to imply that any of the above are
	unconventional, it's just that the complexion of the department
	has changed since my time there in the '80s.)


>2) I know that there is a strong computing component associated 
>   with most of the research that goes on in physics but I am 
>   unsure about the amount of physics that gets incorporated into
>   computer science grad programs.  If I couldn't find/get into a 
>   program such as (1) would I have more luck in finding a project
>   that encorporated both elements in a graduate degree in physics 
>   or computer science?

	In my case, my Ph. D. involved both the use of data analysis
	(of data from the two Voyager spacecraft) and of computer 
	simulation techniques to explain the observations. Most of
	the Ph. D.s from KU in space physics do similar duty. I also
	have a number of friends and acquaintences (both with degrees
	from KU and other schools) who had similar involvement in
	their Physics degrees. In the course of earning a Ph. D. in
	physics these days, it is the exceptional case which does not
	utilize computers to a large extent...even experimentalists.
	One friend (a condensed matter physicist) used the computer
	extensively (and still does in his work) to design a variety
	of components for his equipment.


>3) I would also be interested in hearing from people in CS or physics
>   who have come up against barriers (either computer related or 
>   on the physics side) in their research.  Could you describe the
>   specific problem you were working on, the barrier you ran into, 
>   and if you think that someone who was doing graduate work in a
>   CS/Phys split would have been any use?  

	Most of the barriers I came across can be classified into two
	categories: lack of sufficiently sophisticated tools and too
	complex of a problem to be easily solved on the machines of 
	the time. The latter is something for which the only solution
	seems to be time. The lack of sufficiently sophisticated tools
	is probably also the same way. If I were starting my Ph. D. work
	now, I would have a much easier time from the standpoint of
	software tools available. However, I'm certain that other 
	people now performing the work must resort to much of what I
	had to do....writing much (if not most) of the "support" type
	of programming routines (graphics, analysis, etc.) from 
	scratch. These, however, were strictly CS-related problems (no
	support staff) and didn't involve much with regard to the
	"physics" aspect of my problem (part of my complaint, here).

>Any input on any of the above would be appreciated.  I'm hoping 
>that my niche is out there somewhere!  

	Good luck!

>Thanks,
> 
>Steve Oldenburg 
>oldenbur@mdd.comm.mot.com
>    

	You're welcome.

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