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.  

If you have any issues logging in to view any of the secured documents below, please try adding "uofi\" (without the quotes) in front of your netid.

 

 

 

 

Week Date Homework Lecture Notes

Reading

(Kittel and Kroemer: K&K

Schroeder: S)

 Discussion
1 8/26   Notes 1

K&K Ch. 1

S Ch. 2

  
  8/28

PS 1

due 9/5

Solutions

 Notes 2

K&K Ch. 1 (p. 10-25)

S Ch. 2 (2.1, 2.2, 2.4)

  
2 9/4

PS 2

due 9/12

Solutions

 Notes 3

K&K Ch. 2

S Ch. 2 (2.3, 2.6); Ch. 3 (3.1)

Discussion 1

Solutions
3 9/9   Notes 4

K&K Ch. 2; Ch.3 pp. 58-60

S Ch. 2 (2.5); Ch 3 (3.3) 

 
3 9/11

PS 3

due 9/19

Solutions

 Notes 5

K&K Ch. 3 (p. 58-62, 72-76)

S Ch. 2 (2.5); S Ch. 3 (3.4); S 6.1

Discussion 2

Solutions
4 9/16  

Notes Lecture 6

 

K&K Ch. 3 (p. 58-62, 72-76)

S 6.1-2

Discussion 3

Solutions
  9/18

PS 4

due 9/26

Solutions

Notes Lecture 7

 

K&K Ch.3 (p. 77)

S 6.3-4; 6.6-6.7

  
5 9/23  

Notes Lecture 8

 

K&K Ch. 3 (p. 68-71)

S 6.5 (see also 5.2)

Discussion 4

Solutions
  9/25

PS 5

due 10/3

Solutions

Notes 9

Ch 6 171-176;

K&K Ch. 8 (227-257);

S 4.1-4.4

  
6 9/30

 

 

Notes 10

Thermodynamic Relations: Examples

 S. 5.1

Discussion 5

Solutions
  10/2

PS 6

due 10/17

Solutions

Notes 11

Saha equation

K&K Ch. 5 (119-139);

S 3.5

  
7 10/7  

Notes 12

 

 S 5.2

Discussion 6

Solutions
  10/9

 

MIDTERM EXAM 1

solutions

 Ch. 9 (261-272)  
8 10/14

 

 Notes 13

K&K Ch. 5 (134-144)

S 7.1

Discussion 7

Solutions
  10/16

PS 7

due 10/24

Solutions

 Notes 14

K&K Ch. 4 (89-98)

S 7.4

  
9 10/21   Notes 15 Ch. 4 (102-109)

Discussion 8

Solutions
  10/23

PS 8

due 10/31

Solutions

 Notes 16 Ch. 7  
10 10/28   Notes 17 Ch. 7 (183-195)

Discussion 9

Solutions

 
  10/30

PS 9

due 11/7

Solutions

 Notes 18

Ch. 7 (199-205)

  
11 11/4   Notes 19 Ch. 7

Discussion 10

Solutions
  11/6

 

  

Notes 20

    
12 11/11   Notes 21

Ch. 10 (276-284)

Discussion 11

Solutions
  11/13

PS 10

due 11/21

Solutions

 MIDTERM EXAM 2 Ch. 10 (287-291)  
13 11/18   Notes 22

Ch. 10 (295-297)

Discussion 12

Solutions
  11/20

PS 11

due 12/5

Solutions

 Notes 23

Ch. 10 (298-302)

  
Fall Break
14 12/2  

Notes 24

Ch. 14 (407-408;

see also 270-271)

Discussion 13

Solutions
  12/4

PS 12

(No due date)

 Notes 25 p. 96-98  
15 12/9   Notes 26  

Practice problems

Solutions
  12/11   REVIEW  

Perspectives
 

12/18

8-11 am

room TBA

   FINAL EXAM