STATISTICAL MECHANICS
Course objectives
GENERAL OBJECTIVES: The first main objective of the course is to introduce the students to the fundamental concepts of Statistical Mechanics (SM). Generally speaking the students must understand how to derive the thermodynamic description of a macroscopic system from its microscopic laws. This knowledge is of obvious relevance for their background in Physics and for the more specialised courses of the next years. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: A - Knowledge and understanding OF 1) basic concepts in equilibrium SM and in probability theory OF 2) computation rules in classical SM (microcanonical, canonical and grand canonical ensembles); equivalence between the different rules and their application to non-interacting systems; OF 3) Basic concepts and example of interacting systems (Van Der Waals equation). OF 4) Fundamental concepts and computation rules in Quantum SM; application to the quantum perfect gas, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions; OF 5) Thermodynamic properties of quantum bosonic and fermionic systems; high and low temperature limits; Sommerfeld expansion for a Fermionic gas; specific heat in a solid; Debye theory. OF 6) Brief summary of quantisation of the electromagnetic radiation, black body radiation. B - Application skills OF 7) The second objective is to prepare the students to actively solve problems in physics where SM concepts are required. This will happen at first with problems structured with a conceptual scheme similar to the one discussed and applied during the course. However, as their preparation progresses, students are also expected to use SM concepts for solving new problems in different applications. C - Autonomy of judgment OF 8) The third and more ambitious objective is to teach the students to think in probabilistic and statistic terms, using concepts and methods from SM as a powerful problem solving tool, both in physics and in different fields (e.g. socio-economic systems, biological systems, medical applications) D - Communication skills OF 9) Besides having a clear understanding of the new acquired concepts in SM, the studend should correspondingly acquire the ability to communicate and transmit these concepts in a clear and direct way. E - Ability to learn OF 10) The students should become able to read and understand scientific books and articles where SM concepts are involved and should be able to deepen autonomously their knowledge in this field.
Program - Frequency - Exams
Course program
Prerequisites
Books
Teaching mode
Frequency
Exam mode
Bibliography
Lesson mode
Program - Frequency - Exams
Course program
Prerequisites
Books
Teaching mode
Frequency
Exam mode
Lesson mode
Program - Frequency - Exams
Course program
Prerequisites
Books
Teaching mode
Frequency
Exam mode
Bibliography
Lesson mode
Program - Frequency - Exams
Course program
Prerequisites
Books
Frequency
Exam mode
Program - Frequency - Exams
Course program
Prerequisites
Books
Teaching mode
Frequency
Exam mode
Bibliography
Lesson mode
Program - Frequency - Exams
Course program
Prerequisites
Books
Teaching mode
Frequency
Exam mode
Bibliography
Lesson mode
- Lesson code1018853
- Academic year2024/2025
- CoursePhysics
- CurriculumFisica applicata
- Year3rd year
- Semester1st semester
- SSDFIS/02
- CFU6
- Subject areaTeorico e dei fondamenti della Fisica