PHYS 435/642 ---- Statistical Physics, 2016-2017

Course Outline

Instructor: Dr. P. Vasilopoulos Time: Th 17:30-20:15

Office: SP 367.15 Tel: 848-2424, ext. 3290
Office hours: M,Tu, after 4:30pm Room : CC 301 (or SP 365.01)

Text: F. Reif, Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics, Waveland Press,

ISBN: 978-1-577766-612-7

References:
Thermal Physics, C. Kittel and H. Kroemer
Statistical Mechanics, K. Huang
The principles of Statistical Mechanics, R. C. Tolman
Equilibrium and Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics, C. M. Van Vliet
Solid State Physics, N. Aschroft and D. Mermin
The principles Of The Theory of Solids, J. M. Ziman

The main topics to be covered are:

I* Fast review of Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics

II** Kinetic theory of transport processes, relaxation-time approximation, Boltzmann

transport equation, detailed balance, one- and two-particle collisions, irreversible
processes and fluctuations, electrical and thermal conduction in solids. Diffusion
equation, Einstein relation, Brownian motion, Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations,
applications. Fluctuations and Onsager relations, linear responses, Wiener-Khintchine
relations, Nyquists theorem.

Mark Distribution: Assignments (4 or 5 ): 30%; Mid-term: 30%; Final Exam 40%.

A minimum of 50% of the assignments total grade is required.
Detailed course plan:
I* Ch. 1, introduction, Ch. 6 (same as Chs. 3,5 from C. Kittel), Chs.7, 9.
II** 12, 13, partly Chs. 14, 15 (from C. Kittel), Ch. 16 (from N. Aschroft), Chs. 14, 15.