Entry requirements

Mechanics III (Analytical Mechanics), Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics and Quantum Physics or similar.

Learning outcomes

The course gives an introduction to statistical mechanics and some important applications. The course discusses how probability theory can be used to derive relations between the microscopic and macroscopic properties of matter.

After completing the course the student should be able to

• give an account of the relevant quantities used to describe macroscopic systems, thermodynamic potentials and ensembles.
• give an account of the macroscopic and microscopic description of temperature, entropy and free energy and their descriptions in terms of probabilities
• give an account of the theory of statistical mechanics and the approximations making a statistical description possible
• apply the theory to understand gases and crystals and in addition be able to construct microscopic models and from these derive thermodynamic observables
• describe the importance and consequences of quantum mechanics for macroscopic particle systems
• give an account of the strength an limitations of the models used and be able to compare different microscopic models
• show an analytic ability to solve problems relevant to statistical mechanics

Content

Thermodynamic potentials. Phase space and distributions in phase space. Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions with applications. Statistical ensembles. Applications on crystals and gases. Quantum statistics, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics, Bose-Einstein condensation. The basic theory for electrons in a metal.

Instruction

Lectures and tutorials

Assessment

Written examination at the end of the course.