TEACHING INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE

• Classical Mechanics: This class is equivalent to a 1st year graduate Classical Mechanics course in the United States at the level of the standard book "Classical Mechanics" by Goldstein. Instead of following one or two books on the subject, I have written class notes that contain simulation results in Mathematica and C++ that are made available on the web (http://fisica.ciencias.uchile.cl/alejo/). The class includes an introduction to Hamiltonian chaos. A problem set developed specifically for this class is also available. A basic introduction for Mathematica and C++, in synchronization with other advanced classes, is presented through workable examples, giving some emphasis to numerical solutions of mechanical problems. An introduction to chaos theory is given, and a final programming project is required for the course.

• Electrodynamics: This class is equivalent to a 1st year graduate Electrodynamics course in the United States at the level of the standard book "Classical Electrodynamics" by J. D. Jackson. Instead of following one or two books on the subject, I have written class notes, that contain simulation results in Mathematica and C++, that are made available on the web (http://fisica.ciencias.uchile.cl/alejo/). A problem set developed specifically for this class is also available. A basic introduction for Mathematica and C++, in synchronization with other advanced classes, is presented through workable examples, giving some emphasis to numerical solutions of electrodynamics problems, in particular, solutions to partial diferential equations. A final programming project is required for the course.

• Nonlinear physics and Complexity: This class reviews the basics of nonlinear dynamics, chaos,  and discusses some ideas of the complex system's approach, turbulence, and multiagent systems. Class notes, that contains simulation results in Mathematica and C++, and problem sets developed specifically for this class are made available on the  web (http://fisica.ciencias.uchile.cl/alejo/). A basic introduction to Mathematica and C++ is presented through workable examples, giving some emphasis to numerical solutions of problems. A final programming project is required for the course.

• Advanced Plasmas: This class reviews the basics of Astrophysical Plasmas: fluid and kinetic description, plasma equilibrium, waves, nonlinear effects, turbulence, spatiotemporal chaos. A basic introduction to Mathematica and C++ is presented through workable examples, giving some emphasis to numerical solutions of problems. A final programming project is required for the course.

• Advanced programming and numerical methods: This class reviews the basics of C++ programming through workable examples, giving particular emphasis in numerical methods and solutions of problems.

• Optimization:  This class reviews the basic approach to optimization problems, with and without restrictions. The approach includes modeling, interpretation, and solution of these problems.  Even though the emphasis is on linear (convex) solutions, some time is spent on nonlinear approaches: Monte Carlo, Neural nets, Genetic Algorithms, etc.

• Introductory Physics, Mechanics: This class reviews the introductory concepts of mechanics, at the 1st year undergraduate engineering level. Class notes and a problem set developed specifically for this class are made available on the  web (http://fisica.ciencias.uchile.cl/alejo/).
  

• Research and Intensive  simulation  project workshop: In this experimental course a group of students work towards a common goal, in this case a specific project that should take a semester or more. The group of students must structure a work plan, present weekly advances in front of their peers and through the group web page, estimate the cost, buy the materials, etc. This course is managed by various professors that orient the different student groups on topics necessary for the completion of the project, such as basic modern simulation methods (finite elements, finite differences, etc), C++ language,  visualization through graphical interfaces, management of operating systems and hardware, etc. Some of the projects developed by the students include:

• Everyday Physics (CGF): This class reviews topics that are of relevance in modern physics for a general audience.
  

2021 - 1st semester