STATISTICAL PHYSICS I
Knowledge of basic thermodynamic notions, classical and quantum mechanics, elements of probability theory.
We remark that several quantum mechanical concepts, as density matrix, identical particles and Landau levels will be discussed in detail during the course.
The final examination consists of an oral interview, where the student is asked to describe in a quantitative way the proposed arguments, emphasizing the physically relevant results. The first part will concern perfect quantum gases, the second one two or three specific topics of the program.
In order to get the highest grade (30 cum laude) the student has to discuss the topics with rigor, emphasizing the key physical features, and analytic techniques.
The goal is to provide a detailed knowledge of the principles of statistical mechanics of quantum and classical systems, describe approximation methods, and provide a detailed description of the main phenomena related to perfect quantum gases. Since statistical mechanics provides a bridge between the microscopic description of a many particle system and its thermodynamic functions, this course might be of interest to many different curricula, from condensed matter, to astrophysics, to theoretical physics.
We expect that the student develops a quantitative understanding of the various techniques and relevant physical examples, discussed in the course, and she/he should be able to apply the formalism to novel physical settings.
Thermodynamics.
Equilibrium states, thermodynamics, state functions, zeroth law. First principle. Equation of state of a perfect gas. Response functions. Second principle (Clausius), Carnot's theorem and entropy. Relationship between response functions. Stability of equilibrium states, thermodynamic potentials and their convexity properties. Maxwell's relations. The third law. Thermodynamic description of phase transitions. The coexistence curve and Clausius Clapeyron equation. Van der Waals equation of state, critical point and the law of corresponding States. Maxwell construction. Critical exponents and their value for the case of Van der Waals. Landau theories, evaluation of critical exponents.
Fundamentals of statistical mechanics.
Fundamentals of classical statistical mechanics, Gibbs ensembles. Microcanonical ensemble formalism. The ideal gas. Gibbs paradox and the Boltzmann factor. Equipartition theorem. The canonical formulation. Equivalence of ensembles. Model for the Van der Waals equation. Grand canonical ensemble and equivalence with the canonical ensemble. Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Existence of the thermodynamic limit for Van Hove potentials. Cluster and virial expansions. Second virial coefficient for simple potentials. Density matrices in quantum mechanics, identical particles systems, quantum Gibbs ensembles. Classical limit of quantum partition function.
Perfect quantum gases.
Bose gases: crystal lattice in Debye approximation, specific heat at low and high temperatures. Bose-Einstein condensation: the population of the state of minimum energy, interpretation as first order phase transition. Degenerate Fermi Gas, Fermi energy and chemical potential, specific heat at low temperatures. Pauli paramagnetism and Landau diamagnetism.
The course consists of frontal lectures, where results are derived in detail. Simple exercises are suggested, and eventually discussed.
A pdf transcript of the lectures will be available to the students.
More detailed information can be obtained from the e-learning page, including a pdf copy and recordings of the lectures.
The students may contact me via email Roberto.Artuso@uninsubria.it