Enrollment year
2017/2018
Academic discipline
FIS/02 (THEORETICAL PHYSICS, MATHEMATICAL MODELS AND METHODS)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Curriculum
PERCORSO COMUNE
Period
2nd semester (02/03/2020 - 12/06/2020)
Lesson hours
48 lesson hours
Prerequisites
Basic notions of quantum physics (e.g. energy levels of a particle in a box, quantum harmonic oscillator).
Learning outcomes
Learning of concepts and physical phenomena related to statistical mechanics, from a classical and a quantum point of view.
Course contents
The course deals with basic concepts of statistical mechanics, focusing on the transition from a microscopical point of view to thermodynamics. Ensembles theory will be the main tool in this step. After a classical introduction, quantum statistics (with various examples, from black body radiation to Fermi-Dirac gas) will be introduced. Second order (or continuous) phase transitions will be exemplified by the Ising model.
Teaching methods
24 lectures, 48 academic hours. A particular emphasis is put on problem-solving, in order to clarify the underlying theory.
Reccomended or required readings
R.K. Pathria, P.D. Beale, Statistical Mechanics (third edition)
Notes (web download)
Assessment methods
Oral examination. For the examination it is recommended to focus on physical aspects (qualitative trends, figures, methods for measuring various physical properties) but not neglecting a detailed study of mathematical derivations.
Further information
Oral examination. For the examination it is recommended to focus on physical aspects (qualitative trends, figures, methods for measuring various physical properties) but not neglecting a detailed study of mathematical derivations.
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