PHY3203 Advanced Statistical Physics

2007-2008

Code: PHY3203
Title: Advanced Statistical Physics
Instructors: Staff of Foreign Host Institution
CATS credits: 15
ECTS credits: 7.5
Availability: Physics programmes with study abroad only
Level: 3
Pre-requisites: N/A
Co-requisites: N/A
Background Assumed: Statistical Physics (PHY2201)
Duration: As agreed
Directed Study Time: 45 lectures (approx)
Private Study Time: 105 hours (approx)
Assessment Tasks Time: -
Observation report: not applicable

Aims

This module aims to develop links between microscopic and macroscopic systems in order to describe the energy and thermal properties of collections of atoms in terms of the microscopic properties of their constituents.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

Module Specific Skills

• explain thermodynamic concepts, including the ideas of reversibility, thermal equilibrium under various conditions and entropy;
• explain the concepts of statistical mechanics;
• describe the thermal properties (e.g. specific heat and distribution functions) of generic materials (e.g. insulators, metals, paramagnets, and Fermi and Bose systems) based on simple models of their basic constituents;
• calculate the average occupation of the energy states of a large collection of non-interacting atoms;
• use the techniques of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics to solve problems.

Discipline Specific Skills

• solve mathematical problems;
• study successfully within the system of an overseas university.

Personal and Key Skills

• manage their own learning and make appropriate use of support material.

Learning and Teaching Methods

These follow local practice at the host institution, typically lectures and/or directed self-study. Courses may also include laboratory exercises and homework problems.

Assignments

Follow host institution's conventions

Assessment

As specified by host institution, typically homework assignments and a final examination.

Syllabus Plan and Content

1. Review of thermodynamics and the statistical description of equilibrium
2. Thermal interaction
3. Microscopic theory and macroscopic measurements
4. Canonical distribution
5. Thermodynamic interaction, phase transitions
6. Elementary kinetic theory of transport
7. Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions; black-body photon radiation

Recommended Modules and Texts in Host Institution
 

Host Institution	Module	Text
Auckland	Physics 315 (S2)	D.V. Schroeder, Introduction to Thermal Physics
Central Michigan	450 (Spring)	K. Stowe, Introduction to Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
Iowa State	531 (Fall)	R. K. Pathria, Statistical Mechanics
Kansas	671 (Fall)	D. Kondepudi and I. Prigogine, Modern Thermodynamics
Massey	124.327 (S1)	C. Kittel and H. Kroemer, Thermal Physics
New Mexico	505 (Spring)	K. Huang, Statistical Mechanics
Sydney	3956 (1)	M.W. Zemansky and R.H. Dittman, Heat and Thermodynamics
Wollongong	385 (Spring)	C. Kittel and H. Kroemer, Thermal Physics

Core Text

Not applicable

Supplementary Text(s)

Not applicable

Formative Mechanisms

Follow host institution's conventions.

Evaluation Mechanisms

In addition to using the host institution's systems, students can raise any matters of concern with the Stage 3 Study Abroad Co-ordinator.