Phys 524, Winter 2007, Thermodynamics and  Statistical mechanics

 

Instructor: Aurel Bulgac

The class will meet MW 10:30 am - 12:20 pm  in PAA A114


Textbook:   E.M. Lifshitz and L.D. Landau, Statistical Physics, 3rd edition, Pergamon Press

We shall try to cover:

Chapter I       The fundamental principles of statistical physics
Chapter II      Thermodynamics quantities
Chapter III     Gibbs distribution
Chapter IV     Ideal gases
Chapter V      The Fermi and Bose distributions
Chapter VI     Solids
Chpater VII   Non-ideal gases
Chpater VIII  Phase equilibria (if time permits)
Chapter  XI    Properties of matter at very high density (if time permits)
Chapter  XII   Fluctuations (if time permits)



Exams:        January 24th, February 21 10:30 am - 12:20 pm and March 12 at 8:30 - 10:20 pm

Past exams: exam_1, exam_2, exam_final



Grading:   30% exam 1 + 30% exam 2 + 30% exam 3 + 10% homework

 


Additional suggested texts (they are all on reserve in Physics library):

Statistical mechanics, an advanced course with problems and solutions, by R. Kubo, in cooperation with H. Ichimura, T.Usui and N. Hashizume

Thermodynamics: An advanced course with problems and solutions, by R. Kubo in cooperation with H. Ichimura and others

Equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical thermodynamics, by Michel Le Bellac, Fabrice Mortessagne and G. George Batrouni

An introduction to thermal physics, by Daniel V. Schroeder