MAU34405 Statistical physics I

Module Code	MAU34405
Module Title	Statistical physics I
Semester taught	Semester 1
ECTS Credits	5
Module Lecturer	Prof. Manuela Kulaxizi
Module Prerequisites	MAU23402 Advanced classical mechanics II

This module is examined in a 2-hour examination at the end of Semester 1.
Continuous assessment contributes 20% towards the overall mark.
The module is passed if the overall mark for the module is 40% or more. If the overall mark for the module is less than 40% and there is no possibility of compensation, the module will be reassessed as follows:
1) A failed exam in combination with passed continuous assessment will be reassessed by an exam in the supplemental session;
2) The combination of a failed exam and failed continuous assessment is reassessed by the supplemental exam;
3) A failed continuous assessment in combination with a passed exam will be reassessed by one or more summer assignments in advance of the supplemental session.
Capping of reassessments applies to Theoretical Physics (TR035) students enrolled in this module. See full text at https://www.tcd.ie/teaching-learning/academic-affairs/ug-prog-award-regs/derogations/by-school.php Select the year and scroll to the School of Physics.

11 weeks of teaching with 3 lectures and 1 tutorial per week.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to

Explain the ideas of equilibrium thermodynamics and apply them to various systems.
Relate macroscopic equilibrium properties with the underlying microscopic physics.
Describe the notion of ensembles and use the formalism of statistical physics.
Include interactions systematically through appropriate expansions.
Explain the concept of a first-order phase transition.

Thermodynamics: 0th, 1st, 2nd and 3rd laws, concept of temperature and entropy.
Thermodynamic potentials: Ideal gases, heat engines, reversible vs irreversible processes.
Calculus: Gauss integrals, Gamma function, saddle point approximation, Euler-Maclaurin resummation.
Elements of cominatorics and probability theory.
Foundations of statistical physics, probabilistic description of statistical systems.
Microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles. Partition function.
Derivation of thermodynamics from statistical physics, Boltzmann and Gibbs approaches to entropy.
Applications of thermodynamics and statistics in physical systems.