Prof.  Luca Amendola


Institut für Theoretische Physik -- Universität Heidelberg


Philosophenweg 16 -- D-69120 Heidelberg -- Germany

Tel: +49-6221-549-407 -- Fax: +49-6221-549-333

Sprechstunde: After my lectures
and by appointment





 

Theoretical Statistical Physics


LSF info

Winter Semester 2019/20

   Outline of the course:
  
   - Concepts of Thermodynamics
   - Concepts of Statistics
   - Microstates
   - Statistical definition of Entropy
   - Microcanonical ensemble
   - Canonical ensemble
   - Paramagnetism
   - Virial theorem and equipartition theorem
   - Macrocanonical ensemble
   - Density operator
   - Ideal quantum systems
   - Ideal Bose gas
   - Ideal Fermi Gas
   - Phase transitions

   More detailed program


   NOTE: Course begins on October 15th, 2019.    Classes on Tuesday and Thursday 11:15-13:00 INF 308/HS 2.

   The exercise classes will begin the week Oct. 21-25. Obertutor: Nicoḷ Defenu . Exercise sheets will be posted every Tuesday online here . Two students (but no more) can work together and hand in a single copy of the sheets. You should hand them in the following Tuesday during the lecture between 11:15am and 1pm, adding your name, the tutor group and the name of the tutor. In case you cannot bring them, please contact Dr. Defenu and hand them in directly to him the same day. We can't accept the sheets beyond Tuesday. Please don't send them via email.

  
  
   First exam: Feb. 14, 9am-1pm, INF 308 HS1 & HS2 und INF 227 HS1 & HS2
   Second exam: postponed to a later date (to be decided) due to the pandemic
  
   Calendar :
   15.10
   17.10
   22.10
   24.10
   29.10
   31.10
   05.11
   07.11
   12.11
   14.11
   19.11
   21.11
   26.11
   28.11
   03.12
   05.12
   10.12
   12.12
   17.12
   19.12
   07.01
   09.01
   14.01
   16.01
   21.01
   23.01

    CREDITS: 8
    EXAMS:
    You must register to the course in order to take the exam. If you attended the course one of the previous years and wish to take the exam, you must register even if you are not attending the course.
        You are allowed to bring only one A4 page with handwritten equations on both sides. You can also bring a non-programmable electronic pocket calculator with no internet connection. No other material (books, computers, tablets, etc) is allowed. Cellphones must be switched off.

Detailed program of the course: we covered the entire content of the Lecture notes with the exception of sections 3.6 and 5.7. Some results of Chapter 6 have been used as well but are not part of the program. The program corresponds roughly to the content of Greiner's book, except Chapters 3 and 16, but with several subsections shortened or skipped.

   


    Suggested texts:

    Lecture Notes (full) NEW version 19.12.2019 (please send me comments/typos etc)
   


    Greiner, Neise, Stoecker, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, Springer (recommended)
    Pahtria, Statistical Mechanics, Elsevier (a well-known, more advanced text)
    Schwabl, Statistical Mechanics, Springer (very complete, includes several advanced topics)


    Y-K Lim, Problems and solutions on Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, World Scientific (a huge list of problems and solutions)


 
    Other useful texts: Chandler, Introduction to Modern Statistical Mechanics (clear and concise); J. P. Sathna Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity. (an original, pedagogical text, especially useful on fundamental issues); J. Uffink, Compendium of the foundations of classical statistical physics. (a historical perspective on fundamental issues)
   
   


 

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