PHYS 7540 Statistical Mechanics

INSTRUCTOR:
Prof. B.W. Southern,
room 320 Allen Bldg.
(tel: 474-6179)
email: Byron.Southern@umanitoba.ca

TEXTBOOK:
R.K. Pathria and P.D. Beale,
Statistical Mechanics (2011),
3rd ed., Butterworth Heinemann

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS:
F. Reif,
Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal
Physics (1965)
McGraw-Hill

COURSE OUTLINE:
1. Statistical Basis of Thermodynamics
2. Ensemble Theory
3. Canonical Ensemble
4. Grand Canonical Ensemble
5. Quantum Statistics
6. Ideal Bose Systems
7. Ideal Fermi Systems
8. Interacting Systems
9. Phase Transitions
10. Fluctuations

EVALUATION PROCEDURE:
Problem assignments 50%
Final exam 50%

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
problem assignments given approximately every three weeks

CONSULTATION TIMES: anytime

POLICY ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS: all assignments must be handed
in by the deadline with no exceptions. If not complete, hand in what
you have done.

POLICY ON PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING: refer to the Graduate Calendar