| CODE | PHY3145 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Statistical Mechanics | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Physics | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims to provide the student with a practical understanding of the principles and applications of statistical mechanics. It consists of: - Introduction to equilibrium statistical mechanics: relation to thermodynamics and the microcanonical formalism; - The canonical formalism; - The grand canonical formalism; - Revisiting the concept of entropy; - Ideal quantum gases; - Magnetic systems; - Mean field theory; - An introduction to phase transitions. Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this study-unit, students should be able to: - Explain thermodynamics as logical consequences of the postulates of equilibrium statistical mechanics; - Define and discuss the concepts and roles of entropy; - Apply the principles of equilibrium statistical mechanics to various problems; - Derive the Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions; - Understand the properties of ideal quantum gases; - Explain the properties of the 1D Ising model; - Apply mean field theory to investigate higher dimensional structures in magnetic systems; - Understand the basic concept of a phase transition in the context of magnetic systems. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Thermodynamics and an introduction to Thermostatistics, H. B. Callen, (John Wiley & Sons, Singapore, 1985). - Statistical Mechanics, K. Huang (John Wiley & Sons, 2nd Edition, 1987). - Statistical and Thermal Physics: With Computer Applications, H. Gould & J. Tobochnik (Princeton University Press, 2010). |
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| RULES/CONDITIONS | Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE PHY1197 | ||||||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Gabriel Farrugia Andre Xuereb |
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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