Course Overview

The fundamental concepts introduced in Statistical Physics I are applied to a few simple physical systems such as ideal gases. We derive the classical (Boltzmann) and quantum (Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein) statistics from statistical ensembles. The fundamental principles underlying when extracting the maximum work from heat are clarified. Those principles are applied to simple systems such as (classical and quantum) ideal gas and conduction electrons in metals.

Learning Achievement

1. The students are able to construct the micro-canonical, canonical, grand- canonical ensembles and the corresponding statistical probabilities.
2. The students are able to derive the fundamental thermodynamic functions such as entropy, Helmholtz free energy, and thermodynamic potential from the statistical ensembles.
3. The students are able to calculate the pressure of an ideal gas from the Maxwell velocity distribution.

Competence

Related to 2. Understanding ability of physical phenomena.

Course prerequisites

Statistical Mechanics I
Intro. to Single-Variable Calculus I & II, Advanced Calculus, Linear Algebra I & II, Probability and Statistics, Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics, Modern Physics

Grading Philosophy

Homework & Class performance 30 %
Final 70%

Course schedule

Fundamental equation and Gibbs-Duhem relation
Legendre transformation
Other fundamental equations
Properties of ideal gas
Thermodynamic coefficients
van der Waals gas
Canonical ensemble
Partition function and Helmholtz free energy
Grand-canonical ensemble
T-p distribution and Gibbs free energy

Course type

Lectures

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Sano Nobuyuki

Other information

* You may discuss with other students for preparing the written homework. Yet, just “a copy-and-paste” will not be accepted. No late homework will be accepted.
* All exams are closed book for in-class lecture. In the case of hybrid lecture, all exams are open book.

Site for Inquiry

Link to the syllabus provided by the university