PHY 5524: Statistical Mechanics, Spring 2008

Syllabus

Lectures: MWF 9:05 -- 9:55, UPL 110.

Lecturer: Nick Bonesteel
Office: 609 Keen (Physics Department); A313 Magnet Lab
Tel.: (850) 644-7805
E-mail: bonestee@magnet.fsu.edu

Office Hours:  Office hours will be held immediately after class on MW 10:15 -- 11:45 in 609 Keen.  If these times are not convenient, please feel free to contact me at any time to arrange an appointment.  (The best way to do this is by e-mail.)

Prerequisites: PHY 5246 (Theoretical Dynamics) and PHY 5645 (Quantum Mechanics A)

Main Text: Pathria, Statistical Mechanics (Second Edition), (Butterworth-Heinemann, 1996). (amazon.com)

Other Useful Texts:

  • Goodstein, States of Matter, (Dover, 1985). 
  • Huang, Statistical Mechanics (Second Edition), (Wiley, 1987).
  • Landau & Lifshitz, Statistical Physics – Part 1 (Third Edition), (Butterworth-Heinemann, 1984).
     

Course Web Page: http://www.physics.fsu.edu/courses/spring08/phy5524

Course Topics:  

  1. The Statistical Basis of Thermodynamics
  2. Elements of Ensemble Theory
  3. The Canonical Ensemble
  4. The Grand Canonical Ensemble
  5. Formulation of Quantum Statistics
  6. Ideal Bose Systems
  7. Ideal Fermi Systems
  8. Introduction to Phase Transitions

 

Course Work:  Course grades will be determined by your performance on the assigned problem sets, a midterm exam, and a final exam.  The percentage contribution of each to the overall grade will be as follows:

 

  • Homework (40 %)
  • Midterm (30 %)
  • Final Exam (30 %)

 

Problem sets will be assigned once a week (typically on Wednesday, with the due date being the following Wednesday).  All problems have to be solved and turned in at the given deadline.  Discussion of the homework among students is encouraged, but each student should hand in his/her own solutions.  


Homework Assignments:

  • HW#1:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Wednesday, Jan. 16.  (Solution)
  • HW#2:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Wednesday, Jan. 23.  (Solution)
  • HW#3:  Pathria, Chap. 3, Problems 6, 7, 15.  Due: Wednesday, Jan. 30.  (Solution)
  • HW#4:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Wednesday, Feb. 6.  (Solution)
  • HW#5:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Wednesday, Feb. 13.  (New deadline: Friday, Feb. 15).  (Solution)
  • HW#6:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Wednesday, Feb. 20.  (Solution)
  • MIDTERM EXAM  (Solution):  Wednesday, Feb. 27.  Note:  The exam will begin at 8:45 am.
  • HW#7:  Pathria, Chap. 5, Problems 1, 4.  Due: Wednesday, Mar. 5. (Solution)
  • HW#8:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Wednesday, Mar. 19. (Solution)
  • HW#9:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Wednesday, Mar. 26. (Solution)
  • HW#10:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Wednesday, Apr. 2.  (Solution)
  • HW#11:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Wednesday, Apr. 9.  (Solution)
  • HW#12:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Wednesday, Apr. 16.  (Solution)

The FINAL EXAM is scheduled for Friday,  Apr. 25, 12:30pm - 2:30pm in UPL 110

Final Exams from Previous Years:  (Prof. Piekarewicz: 2005, 2006;  Prof.  Schlottmann: 2003).

                                                                

ADA Statement: Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. Please do this during the first week of class.

Honor Code: Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code published in the Florida State University Bulletin and the Student Handbook. The Academic Honor Systems of Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility to (1) uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own work, (2) refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the university community, and (3) foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the university community.