PHYS 427 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Schedule

 

We will begin by discussing fundamentals, introducing many of the basic tools of statistical mechanics and demonstrating their use in simple example systems.  We then move on to thermodynamics, which allows properties of complex macroscopic systems to be understood.  Next, we study the consequences of the quantum statistics obeyed by identical quantum mechanical particles, and subsequently discuss systems with interacting particles.  Finally, time permitting, we conclude with an introduction to non-equilibrium processes.  

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Week Date Homework Lecture Notes

Reading

(Reif)

 Discussion
1 8/28   Notes 1 1.1-1.5  
  8/30

PS 1

due 9/7

Solutions

 Notes 2

2.1-2.4

2.5

  
2 9/6

PS 2

due 9/14

Solutions

 Notes 3

3.3-3.7

A.6

Discussion 1

Solutions
3 9/11   Notes 4

2.5, 2.7

Discussion 2

Solutions
  9/13

PS 3

due 9/21

Solutions

 Notes 5

6.1-6.7

(see also 9.9-9.10)

  
4 9/18   Notes 6 7.1-7.10

Discussion 3

Solutions
  9/20

PS 4

due 9/28

Solutions

 Notes 7 5.5, 6.6  
5 9/25   Notes 8

2.11, 5.3, 5.11

[updated 9/25]

Discussion 4

Solutions
  9/27

 

 Notes 9 5.5  
6 10/2   Notes 10 8.7-8.10

Midterm Study Guide
  10/4

PS 5

due 10/16

Solutions

 MIDTERM EXAM 1    
7 10/9   Notes 11

8.9-8.10 

Discussion 6

Solutions
  10/11

 

 Notes 12 6.9  
8 10/16

PS 6

due 10/26

Solutions

 Notes 13 9.13

Discussion 7

Solutions
  10/18

 

 Notes 14 10.1-10.2  
9 10/23   Notes 15 9.1-9.7

Discussion 8

Solutions
  10/25

PS 7

due 11/2

Solutions

 Notes 16 9.1-9.7, 9.16  
10 10/30   Notes 17 9.16, 9.17

Discussion 9

Solutions
  11/1   Notes 18

[Bose gas is not treated

in Reif.  See ch 7

of Kittel & Kroemer

if interested]

  
11 11/6   Notes 19 8.5-8.6

 

 
  11/8

PS 8

due 11/16

Solutions

 MIDTERM EXAM 2    
12 11/13   Notes 20

8.6

10.3-10.5

Discussion 11

Solutions
  11/15

PS 9

due 11/30

Solutions

 Notes 21 10.6-10.7  
13 11/27   Notes 22

[Landau theory is not

covered in Reif. See K&K 298-304

or these notes by D. Tong]

Discussion 12

Solutions
  11/29

PS 10

due 12/7

Solutions

 Notes 23

[for general background:

Reif ch. 12.]  

15.1-15.2

(updated 11/29)

  
14 12/4   Notes 24 9.15

Discussion 13

Solutions
  12/6

PS 11

due 12/14

Solutions

 Notes 25    
15 12/11      

Discussion 14

Solutions
  12/13   REVIEW   Final Study Guide