Course syllabus

Termodynamik och statistisk fysik
Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

FMF150, 7,5 credits, A (Second Cycle)

Valid for: 2016/17
Decided by: Education Board B
Date of Decision: 2016-03-29

General Information

Main field: Nanoscience.
Elective for: F4, F4-tf, Pi4
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English on demand

Aim

To give the foundations of statistical physics that is needed both in applications and for studies in theoretical physics.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• know the fundamentals of statistical physics
• apply the theory on concrete problems in different areas of physics

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

• use the methods of statistical physics for analysis och computation of relevant physical problems
• carry out a project

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

decide when a quantum mechanical analysis is nessecary

Contents

Basic principles of thermodynamics, the thermodynamic laws. Temperature and entropy. Work and heat. Differentials and differential relations. Statistical methods. Systems and ensembles. Partition functions and their properties. Phases and phase transitions. Quantum statistics for ideal gases. Fermi-Dirac statistics and properties of electron gases. Bose-Einstein statistics and Plancks law of radiation. Ising model

Examination details

Grading scale: TH
Assessment: Written exam and written presentation of a project.

Admission

Required prior knowledge: Quantum mechanics corresponding to FAFF10 Atomic and Nuclear Physics with Applications.
The number of participants is limited to: No
The course overlaps following course/s: FFFN05

Reading list

• Schroeder, D.V.: An Introduction to Thermal Physics, Addison Wesley Longman, 2000.

Contact and other information

Course coordinator: Jakob Bengtsson, jakob.bengtsson@matfys.lth.se
Course homepage: http://www.matfys.lth.se/education/FMF150