Juan Barrera López
Research: Computational Physics






Multicritical Contact Process
Undergraduate Research at Kovacs' Lab
I investigate the critical parameters of the Contact Process on a critically percolated square lattice. The model serves as a statistical mechanical model for epidemic spreading, and belongs to the same universality class as the Random Transverse-fiels Ising Model.​
Spread of an infection on a critically bond-percolated lattice close to the Multicritical Point. Lattice Size: 100x100
I developed the implementation of the 2D model, running computations on Northwestern's HPC Quest. ​I developed code to simulate a cummulative 10^8 iterations of the system at values close to multicriticality. Both the fully infected and single-infection node were tested for completeness.

Sample clustering of a critically bond-percolated lattice. Size: 1000x1000
Double Pendulum
Computational Physics Midterm
As part of the class midterm, I created code to simulate the double pendulum. Using Mathematica to simplify the algebra, I utilized Python's RK45 method to simulate the system. Further, I conducted an analysis of the spread of the error. Although the simulation continuously pumps energy into the system, the relative error remains below ten parts in a million for the computed times.




Photon Transport in a Dense 1D Galaxy
Computational Physics Final Project
For my final project in Computational Physics, I explored transport phenomena for a dense 1D blackbody galaxy. An absorbing and emmitting function are defined at every point of the galaxy, and are functions of both the temperature and the mass density of that point. We observe that for high absorption, there is a dense photonic cloud in the center of the galaxy, where emission is prevalent. An equilibrium is quickly reached where the gas is dense enough to absorb most of the emitted radiation before it escapes the system.