Checking date: 14/06/2022


Course: 2023/2024

Statistical Physics
(18805)
Master in Mathematical Engineering (Plan: 460 - Estudio: 88)
EPI


Coordinating teacher: SANCHEZ FERNANDEZ, LUIS RAUL

Department assigned to the subject: Physics Department

Type: Electives
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Requirements (Subjects that are assumed to be known)
Basic knowledge of general physics and mathematics (graduate level).
Objectives
The course will provide the student with an appropriate training in statistical physics especially suited for its application to plasma physics and nuclear fusion science. Objectives: 1. Develop intuitive pictures of the micro- and the macroscopic world. 2. Distinguish between equilibrium and non-equilibrium states. 3. Understand the statistical origin of thermodynamic potentials. 4. Calculate the partition function of simple systems. 5. Apply mean-field theories to a variety of systems. 6. Understand criticality and universality. 7. Use transport equations.
Skills and learning outcomes
Description of contents: programme
1. Foundations: the microscopic and macroscopic world, ergodic hypothesis, the micro-canonical ensemble. 2. Canonical ensemble: derivation, thermodynamic potentials, fluctuations, applications. 3. Bose-Einstein gas: Bose-Einstein condensation, examples. 4. Fermi gas: Fermi distribution and Fermi energy, examples. 5. Phase transitions and critical phenomena: the Ising model, Van der Waals theory of liquids, critical phenomena, universality. 6. Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics: Boltzmann equation, Brownian motion, Langevin and Fokker-Plank equations, linear response, fluctuation- dissipation relations.
Learning activities and methodology
* Teaching Methods - Classroom lectures and classroom problem solving sessions. - Homework assignments. - Small research project. * Course Material - Lecture notes (in power point). - Java experiments.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination 50
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 50

Basic Bibliography
  • D. Chandler. Introduction to Modern Statistical Mechanics . Oxford U. Press. 1987
Additional Bibliography
  • Kerson Huang. Statistical Mechanics. Wiley. 1987
  • W. Greiner, L. Neise, H. Stocker. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. Springer. 1995

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.