Statistical Mechanics

Syllabus

  • Thermodynamics: thermodynamic potentials, thermodynamic stability and fluctuations

  • Quantum and Classical equilibrium statistical mechanics

  • Equilibration, ergodicity and Boltzmann equation

  • Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations

  • Mean field theory and phase transitions

Reference Books

  • K. Huang "Statistical Mechanics" 2nd edition

  • A. Reichl "A modern course in statistical physics"

  • L. Peliti "Statistical Mechanics in a nutshell" (second edition)

  • A. Sarracino, A.Puglisi, A. Vulpiani "Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics"

  • J.J. Sakurai "Modern Quantum Mechanics"

  • D. Chandler "introduction to modern statistical mechanics"

  • D. Wu and D. Chandler "introduction to modern statistical mechanics" solution manuals

  • D.A.R. Dalvit et al. "Problems on statistical mechanics"

Notes

Student assessment

During classes exercises will be given to be solved within two weeks. Marks will be as follows

A. Excellent

B. Good

C. Sufficient

D. Not sufficient

E. Disaster

I will correct exercises and give them back to the students. Post-deadline delivery is not admitted. Results will be published anonimously on the web page of the course.

This year -due to the oversize class of SM- formation of groups will be allowed to complete the exercise sessions. The following rules holds

Groups should be formed by N=3 students

Groups should be formed before deadline of ex. session #1

Once formed the composition of each group will remain unchanged

Each student should have a copy of the group's exercise book and present it at the oral examination

Each group will be associated with an alphanumeric identifier which will be used in the assessment of the assigned tasks

Paper is the only format allowed for exercises

Students should be responsible for the collection of exercises in a exercise book to be presented at oral examination.

Exams

Exams are oral. There will be tree questions:

  1. On the results of some definite exercise on the exercise book.
  2. On the first part of the course, depending on the question #1.
  3. On the final part of the course, phase transition and critical phenomena.

The final mark will take into account both the oral examination and the overall performance on exercises.

Question time

Monday 15.30-16.30

This Year

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