Code
Φ-505
Level
Graduate
Category
B
Teacher
S. Sotiriadis
ECTS
6
Hours
4
Semester
Spring
Display
Yes
Offered
Yes
Teacher Webpage
Goal of the course
Graduate as well as advanced undergraduate students may register for this course on Statistical Mechanics that includes also a short review of Thermodynamics. The course focuses on fundamental principles of of Statistical Physics, a detailed exposition of ensemble theory, density matrix approach as well as the standard applications of Fermi and Bose statistics, quantum gases etc. Additional topics such as phase transitions, Ising model and Brownian motion are also included.
Program
Monday, 11:00-3:00, Seminar Room, 2nd Floor
Wednesday 11:00-13:00, Seminar Room, 2nd Floor
Wednesday 11:00-13:00, Seminar Room, 2nd Floor
Syllabus
Review of Thermodynamics, first and second laws, Carnot engine, applications to gases. Statistical basis of Thermodynamics, microscopic and macroscopic states, number of microscopic states compatible with macroscopic states, entropy, thermodynamic materials. Classical ideal gas, Gibbs paradox, correct counting. Microcanonical, canonical and grand canonical ensembles.
Formulation of quantum statistics, density matrix, simple quantum gases. Ideal Fermi gas, magnetic properties, Pauli paramagnetism and Landau diamagnetism. Electron gas in metals, white dwarf stars. Ideal Bose gas, black body radiation, Bose-Einstein condensation.
First and second order phase transitions, Clapeyron equation, Ising model, solution in one dimension, Curie-Weiss mean field theory, spherical spin model.
Brownian motion, diffusion, Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations.
Formulation of quantum statistics, density matrix, simple quantum gases. Ideal Fermi gas, magnetic properties, Pauli paramagnetism and Landau diamagnetism. Electron gas in metals, white dwarf stars. Ideal Bose gas, black body radiation, Bose-Einstein condensation.
First and second order phase transitions, Clapeyron equation, Ising model, solution in one dimension, Curie-Weiss mean field theory, spherical spin model.
Brownian motion, diffusion, Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations.
Bibliography
1. «Statistical Mechanics» – R. K. Pathria (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1996)
2. Statistical Mechanics, K. Huang, Wiley, New York (1963)
3. A modern Course in Statistical Physics, L. E. Reichl, Willey-VCH, Weinheim (2009)
2. Statistical Mechanics, K. Huang, Wiley, New York (1963)
3. A modern Course in Statistical Physics, L. E. Reichl, Willey-VCH, Weinheim (2009)
