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Module MA3443: Statistical Physics I

Credit weighting (ECTS)

5 credits

Semester/term taught

Michaelmas term 2012-13

Contact Hours

11 weeks, 3 lectures including tutorials per week

Lecturer

Dr. Christopher Thomas

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to

• Explain the ideas of equilibrium thermodynamics and apply them to various systems.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how macroscopic equilibrium properties arise from the underlying microscopic physics.
• Show familiarity with 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.

Module Content

• Review of thermodynamics;
• Classical statistical mechanics;
• Microcanonical, canonical and grand canonical ensembles;
• Classical ideal gas;
• Inclusion of interactions;
• Van-der-Waals Gas;
• The cluster expansion and virial coefficients;
• Introduction to first order phase transitions;

Module Prerequisite

MA2342 - Advanced Classical Mechanics II

Assessment Detail

This module will be examined jointly with MA3444 in a 3-hour examination in Trinity term, except that those taking just one of the two modules will have a 2 hour examination.