Physics 328  Statistical Mechanics

University of Washington   Department of Physics

Spring Quarter 2006,  Prof. Marjorie Olmstead

Class Meets MWF 10:30 - 11:20  in PAA A118

Last Update 23 May 2006

Tentative Lecture Schedule

All readings are in the text:  Statistical and Thermal Physics, by M. D. Sturge
 
MONDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY
3/27
Topics:  Introduction.  Stat mech vs. thermo.  Counting States
Reading:  Chapter 1 [Chapter 2 Review]
3/29
Topics:  Multiplicity, Probability, Fundamental Assumption of SM
Reading:  Chapter 3
3/31
Topics: Entropy, Temperature, Laws of Thermodynamics
Reading:  Chapter 4.1-4.6
4/3
Topics: First Law, Connecting S and T in Stat Mech and Thermo
Reading:  Chapter 4.7-4.13
Homework #1 Due
4/5
Topics: Free energy, enthalpy, free enthalpy, Boltzman factor, partition function
Reading: Chapter 4.7-4.13, Chapter 5.1-5.3
4/7
Topics: Multiatom partition function, Fluctuations
Reading: Chapter 5.4-5.7
4/10
Topics: Entropy and Information,  General fluctuations
Reading: Chapter 5.8-5.11
Homework #2 Due
4/12
Topics: Density of States for Particle in 1D, 2D, 3D box
Reading: Chapter 6.1-6.4 
4/14
Topics:  Phonons
Reading: Chapter 6.5-6.7
4/17
Topics:  Phonon Heat Capacity
Reading:  Chapter 6.8-6.12
Homework #3 Due
4/19
Topics: Equipartition and Chemical Potential
Reading:  Chapter 7.1-7.3
4/21
MIDTERM 1
Covers through Chapter 6

4/25  Topics: Balancing external potential with chemical potential:  Gravity and Electrochemical Potential
Reading:  Chapter 7.4-7.7
Homework #4 Due
4/27
Topics: Grand Partition function and its Applications, surface adsorption
Reading: Chapter 7.4-7.9
4/28
Topics:  Fermi and Bose Perfect Gases
Reading:  Chapter 8
5/1
Topics: Ideal Gases - Chemical Potential, heat capacity
Reading: Chapter 9.1-9.4
Homework #5 Due
5/3
Topics:  Maxwell Boltzman distribution; ideal solutions
Reading:  9.5-9.11

5/5
Topics: Internal degrees of Freedom, Chemical Equilibrium
Reading:  Supplemental

5/8
Topics:  Black body radiation, Planck distribution
Reading: Chapter 10.1-10.4
Homework #6 Due
5/10
Topics:  Cosmic Microwave Background, Greenhouse effect, Solar power
Reading: Chapter 10.8,11
5/12
Topics:  Perfect Bose Gas, BEC
Reading: Chapter 11

5/15
MIDTERM 2
Covers through Chapter 9 and Chemical Reactions
5/17
Topics:  Perfect Fermi Gas, Metals and superconductors
Reading: Chapter 12.1-12.2
Homework #7 Due
5/19 Topics:  Stars and cold fermionic atoms
Reading: Chapter 12.3-12.6


5/22
Topics: Semiconductor bands, electrons and holes
Reading:  Chapter 13.1-13.2

5/24
Topics:  Intrinsic and Doped semiconductors
Reading:  Chapter 13.3-13.4
Homework #8 Due
5/26
Topics: Semiconductor Devices
Reading:  Chapter 13.5-13.7

5/29   HOLIDAY

6/1
Topics: Cryogenics : RT to 2K
Reading: 
6/3
Topics: Cryogenics
Reading: 2K to nanoK
Homework #9 Due Thursday evening
6/5  8:30 AM  FINAL EXAM




*The final topic will be decided by the class.  Choices include:  more time on a previous topic, phase transitions (chapter 14), heat engines (chapter 15), transport (chapter 16), cryogenics (supplemental reading).  You can vote once the quarter gets underway at THIS WEB SITE.

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