Statistical Methods in Physics
5 credits
Syllabus, Master's level, 1FA357
A revised version of the syllabus is available.
- Code
- 1FA357
- Education cycle
- Second cycle
- Main field(s) of study and in-depth level
- Physics A1N
- Grading system
- Fail (U), Pass (3), Pass with credit (4), Pass with distinction (5)
- Finalised by
- The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 18 March 2010
- Responsible department
- Department of Physics and Astronomy
Entry requirements
120 credits with basic statistics and 60 credits in physics.
Learning outcomes
When the course is completed the student should be able to
- account for the difference between Bayesian and frequentistic statistics
- compare different data and judge the degree of compatibility
- master error treatment of measurements and error propagation
- carry out function minimisation, both analytically and numerically and establish confidence intervals
- master hypothesis testing and relate the result to probability
- account for different numerical methods for function minimisation
Content
The course gives an understanding of and practical skills with statistical methods that are used in physics. Bayesian vs. frequentistic statistics, Uncertainties, Probability distributions, Expectation value and variance. Parameter estimation: Method of Moments, Maximum-Likelihood, Least Squares. Hypothesis testing: Chi Squares, Signal vs. Background, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Function minimisation with constraints. Numerical minimizing procedures.
Instruction
Lectures.
Assessment
Passed assignments.