FYSA2041 Statistical Physics, part A (6 cr)

• Temperature

• Pressure and Thermodynamical Equilibrium

• System State; Microstate and Macrostate

• Equation of State and State Variables

• Intensive and Extensive VAriables

• Internal Energy, Heat, and Work

• 1. Rule of Thermodynamics

• Reversible and Irreversible Process

• Reversible Expansion of Gas, Work and Heat

• Exact and Inexact Differentials

• Adiabatic, Isobaric, Isochoric, and Isentropic Process

• Response Functions, Heat Capacity

• Adiabatic Equation of state of Ideal Gas

• Cyclic Process and Entropy

• Conseuqences of 2. Law of Thermodynamics

• Natural Variables

• Maxwell Relations

• Boltzmann Entropia

• Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution

• Boltzmann Distribution

• Partition Function

• Classical Phase Spase and Counting States

• Paramagnetism

• Magnetic Cooling

• Equilibrium in Canonical Ensemble and Fluctuations

• Joule-Thomson Effect

• Adiabatic Stretching of a Wire, Rubber Band

• Equipartition Theorem

• Phase Transitions

• Condition of Phase Equilibrium

• Coexistence and Free Energy Minimization

• Ising Model; Mean Field Approximation, Simulation

• Landau Theory of Phase Transition 

After finishing the course the student

• Knows and understands the principles of thermodynamics, it’s range of validity, the postulates, equations of states, and entropy, closed systems and systems coupled to an environment, their thermodynamical potentials and principles of statistical mechanics. T

• Can derive thermodynamical variables starting from an energy spectrum and partition function

• Know what the Boltzmann distribution means and how it’s related to the effect of a heat bath to the energy states of the system

• Knows the connection between statistical physics and thermodynamics

• Understands the role of the chemical potential in phase equilibria and how phase transitions are modeled can represented in phase diagrams

• Is familiar with the Ginzburg-Landau theory and spin models (such as Ising) 

• FYSP1010 Principles of Mechanics (Mekaniikan perusteet)

• FYSP1020 Vibrations and Thermodynamics (Värähtelyt ja termodynamiikka),

• FYSA2001 Modern physics, part A, (Moderni fysiikka, osa A)

• MATP211-213 Calculus 1-3,

• MATA114 Differential Equations (Differentiaaliyhtälöt) (or similar).

• Warmly recommended: FYSA2031 Quantum Mechanics, part A 

Luentomoniste