Department of Physics, University of
Utah
Course Number: Physics 7310 (3)
Course Title: Statistical Mechanics
- REPRESENTATIVE TEXTBOOK
- States of Matter, Goodstein
- COURSE DESCRIPTION
- First rigoous course in methods of statistical mechanics and derivation of the equations of
thermodynamics. Phases of matter: solid, liquid and gas, magnetic phases, phase transitions,
random variables, thermodynamic identities, Maxwell relations. The Boltzmann equation,
electrical conductivity and theory of sound wave propagation and attenuation.
- PRE-REQUISITE
- Phys. 3760 or 5020 or 6750 or equivalent
- OTHER COMMENTS
- Working knowledge of quantum mechanics is encouraged but not absolutely necessary.
- MANDATORY TOPICS
- Topic 1:
- Random Walk (2 weeks)
- Topic 2:
- Central Limit Theorem (1 week)
- Topic 3:
- Ideal/Nonideal Gases (2-3 weeks)
- Topic 4:
- Ideal/Nonideal Gases (2-3 weeks)
- Topic 5:
- Boson and Fermion Statistics, Ideal Bose Gas and Ideal Fermi Liquid (3 weeks)
- Topic 6:
- Electrical Conductivity; Propagation and Attentuation of Sound Waves (Solutions of
Boltzmann Equation) (2 weeks)
- Topic 7:
- Phases of Matter, Coexistence Region, Critical Points, Phase Transitions (3 weeks)
- OPTIONAL TOPICS
- Topic 1:
- Ising Model and Lattice Gas (2 weeks)
- Topic 2:
- Transfer Matrix in 1D: (1 week)
- Links to exisiting web page for this course:
- Currently does not exist.
-
Prepared by Daniel Mattis (2/20/99)