PH432/532-2C Statistical Thermodynamics I (Spring, 2013) Course Information
Course Description:
Through this course students will learn equilibrium thermodynamics, equilibrium statistical mechanics, and Brownian motion/Diffusion processes. Applications include solid state physics, biophysics, chemical reactions, and other selected topics. Various mathematical methods such as line integrals, partial differentials, and probability theory are used throughout the course. Computational tools such as Maple are also used during the course.
Prerequisites: PH352 Modern Physics II
Learning Objectives:
- Equilibrium Thermodynamics
- State variables and equation of state
- Entropy
- Laws of thermodynamics
- Thermodynamics Potentials
- Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics
- Microcanonical ensemble
- Canonical ensemble
- Grandcanonical ensemble
- Brownian motion and diffusion
- Random walk
- Langevin equation
- Fokker-Planck equation
| Day and Time: |
Tue. & Thu. 11:00AM-12:45PM |
| Room: |
CH 394 (Computer Lab) |
| Instructor: |
Dr. Ryoichi Kawai |
| email: |
kawai@uab.edu |
| phone: |
(205) 934-3931 |
| Office Hour: |
Wed. 12:30-1:30pm
|
| Course Website: |
http://kawai.phy.uab.edu/courses/ph432 |
Course Schedule
Homework Assignment
Suggested Reading
|
| Required
Textbook |
|
S. J. Blundell and K. M. Blundell:
Concepts in Thermal Physics
2nd edition
Oxford University Press (2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0199562107 |
|
Messages from the Instructor
- Class will meet at normal scheduled time on Jan. 10 (Thu). See you in class soon.
Homework
Several homework problems will be given every week. Homework must be
turned in electronically by email. Allowed formats are LaTeX
source, LaTeX dvi, Acorbat PDF, Maple Worksheet, Maple Document,
Mathematica Document. (Hand written documents must be scanned in
high resolution (300 DPI) with sufficient contrast and saved in PDF.)
Exams
Two midterm exams and a final comprehensive exam will be given.
Students must take all three exams. Make-up exam is granted only when a
reasonable excuse is presented.
Grading
Exams and assignments carry the following maximum possible points.
Midterm exams (20 pts. each), Final exam (40 pts.), Homework and other
assignments (20 pts.). The total maximum possible points is 100. Letter
grades are determined by the rule given in the table. |
| Grade |
Total Score |
| A |
85 or above |
| B |
75 or above |
| C |
60 or above |
| D* |
50 or above |
| F |
Otherwise |
* Only for PH432 students. |
|
Office Hour