Admission Requirements
Statisitical Physics 1, Quantum Mechanics 2
Description
The goal of Statistical Physics 2 is to understand the physics behind phase transitions in systems of interacting particles using the statisitical description of ensembles.
The course is structured in five connected themes of increasing complexity that discuss the physics of the different states of matter and the phase transition. Each theme consists of 2 lectures and exercise classes. At least one of the exercise classes will be an open numerical experiment based on python. Themes in Statitical Physics 2:
- Thermodynamics of Phase Transitions (liquid-gas phase transition, Maxwell construction)
- Statistical Physics of Interacting Particles (cluster expansion of non-ideal gases)
- Quantum Statistical Physics (interacting fermions and bosons, Bose-Einstein condensation)
- Order-disorder Transitions (2D Ising model and mean-field interactions, Landau theory and critical exponennts)
- Fluctuations (Brownian motion, fluctuation-dissipation, Fokker Planck equation)
The treatment of the topics inside these themes will build on prior knowledge from Statistical Physics 1 and Quantum Mechanics 2 with the goal to describe more realistic systems. This can only be achieved through the use of approximation methods. Throughout the course a strong link is made between theoretical concepts, experimental observation and modern research. Examples will be spread across the various disciplines relevant to the research groups in the institute.
Course objectives
At the end of the course you will be able to:
apply the basic concepts of statisitcal physics to simple examples in solid-state physics, biology and finance.
describe quantum statisitical physics using the quantum canonical ensemble
explain Bose-Einstein condensation
use the Metropolis algorithm to compute phase transitions in a two-dimensional Ising model
construct a mean-field approximation for systems of interacting particles
explain the use of an order parameter and its role in phase transitions
analyze interacting systems using Landau theory, critical temperature and critical exponents
describe systems where fluctuations become important on a macroscopic scale
Transferable Skills
Listening, problem-solving, team work, communication
Timetable
Schedule
For detailed information go to Timetable in Brightspace
Mode of instruction
See Brightspace
Lectures, Exercise Classes and Homework. A solution will be provided to follow these activities online.
Assessment method
Written exam with homework bonus
Brightspace
Registration for Brightspace occurs via uSis by registration for a class activity using a class number
Reading list
Linda E. Reichl, A Modern Course in Statistical Physics, 4th edition, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, Germany (2016), ISBN 978-3-527-41349-2
Robert H. Swendsen, An introduction to Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK (2012), ISBN 978-0-19-964694-4 (used in the Statistical Physics 1 course)