This course is part two of a two term course on Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. Building on the foundation of thermodynamics and classical statistical mechanics laid in the first term we will cover: quantum statistical mechanics, density matrix theory, statistical mechanics of interacting systems, mean field theory, random walks and emergent properties, computation in statistical physics, order parameters, correlations and fluctuations, abrupt and continuous phase transitions, critical phenomena, universality, and an introduction to renormalization group theory.
Course Title PH 642 Statistical Thermophysics
Website http://physics.oregonstate.edu/~schneidg/COURSES/ph642
Credits 3
Instructor Guenter Schneider
Office Weniger 401A
Office hours MT 1-2pm, F 10-11am and by appointment.
Syllabus (pdf)
Location Weniger 377
Hours MWF 11am-11:50am, 1st class 10/2, no class on 9/30 (comp exam) and 11/29 (Thanksgiving).
Recitation (optional) W 10am-10:50am, 1st recitation 10/16.
Midterm in class on Friday 11/1/2013.
Final exam Thursday 12/12/2013, 9:30am-11:30am, Weniger 377.
PH 641 Statistical Thermophysics or instructors consent.
James P. Sethna, Statistical Mechanics: Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity, Oxford University Press.
This course will cover chapters 7, 2, 8, 9 (parts), 10, 11, and 12 in that order. The material in chapters 3, 5, and 6 will frequently appear in the context of this class and in the homework as well.
More information about books and online resources is given below.
Homework will be given approximately every week (usually Wednesdays) and is due one week later. Homework sets have equal weight (scaled to 100 points) and the lowest score for one homework set will be discarded. Full solutions to all problems will be provided, which are for student personal use only. Do not post solutions on the web or otherwise pass them on to others. Some homework problems will in part or entirely based on material covered in the first part (Ph641) of this 2 term sequence.
- Homework 30%
- Quizes 15%
- Midterm exam 15%
- Final exam 40%
The final exam is comprehensive and covers material from the entire course.
For this course it is allowed and encouraged to work together on homework. Working together does not mean copying. Homework solutions from previous years are strictly off-limits. You are on your honor not to use them, and never to share your homework solutions with other students, now or in the future. Likewise, the solutions are for your personal use only. You may keep one copy in your personal files. Each student must write and submit his/her own homework solutions. We will follow the university guidelines, see OSU Student Conduct & Community Standards.
Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Students with accommodations approved through SSD are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through SSD should contact SSD immediately at 737-4098.
James P. Sethna, Statistical Mechanics: Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity, Oxford University Press.
Available from online retailers (~$50). A pdf version of the first printing is available online from
Book webpage http://pages.physics.cornell.edu/sethna/StatMech/
Authors webpage http://www.lassp.cornell.edu/sethna/
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics notes by Prof. Jansen:
While I will not follow these notes, they are immensely useful and provide an interesting alternative view to the in class presentations.
You need a basic reference for thermodynamics. Usually the textbook of your undergraduate Thermodynamics course will do the job. A few recommendations are
- Daniel V. Schroeder, Thermal Physics, good, affordable
- Charles Kittel and Herbert Kroemer, Thermal Physics, very good, expensive
- H. B. Callen, Thermodynamics, more advanced thermodynamics
- F. Reif, Fundamentals of statistical and thermal physics
Note that my recommendations reflect my personal preference. Kittel/Kroemer is good, but their presentation might not appeal to everyone.
There is a very large number of textbooks out there and I am only familiar with a few. The book listed here are quite exhaustive in their coverage and go far beyond what can be covered in a two term course. They also serve as reference books.
- Michael Plischke and Birger Bergersen, Equilibrium Statistical Physics
- Mehran Kardar, Statistical Physics of Particles
- R. K. Patria and Paul D. Beale, Statistical Mechanics
- L. E. Reichl, A modern Course in Statistical Physics
- K. Huang, Statistical Physics
- Landau and Lifshitz, Statistical Physics, Part 1, Course of Theoretical Physics, Volume 5