Phys 219-12!
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| * I just re-directed a question to our <<ln(/forum,"forum page")>>. Please feel free to answer any question there, or ask questions yourself. We are all here to help one another. [Did I mention that this web site and the forum site accept LaTeX?] * I have gotten some inquiries about the textbook (or what to read). Very nice! The textbook is ''<<color("Statistical Physics of Particles", blue)>>'' <<color("by Mehran Kardar", blue)>>. I will also use some of ''<<color("Equilibrium Statistical Physics", blue)>>'' <<color("by Plischke and Bergersen", blue)>>. You can also read your favorite statistical/thermal physics book (your undergrad text or the one by, e.g., Landau, Feynman, or Fermi), if you have time and energy. However, following lectures well and reading one or two sources thoroughly is often a much better strategy than reading too many books, as far as following a course is concerned. |
* Next class, we will spend a short time on the entropy function of a probability distribution and optimizing it under constraint (see LN 4), and then start delving into classical physics. Mathematical topics such as Levy distribution function and the Stirling's formula will be mentioned briefly but I won't spend much time on them, partly because you probably covered it already (Stirling's formula, e.g.) or you will deal with it in homework (Levy distribution). Please keep reading the book along with my notes! As I said in class, I find the book quite good, really. |
Welcome to Phys 219, 2012!
- Next class, we will spend a short time on the entropy function of a probability distribution and optimizing it under constraint (see LN 4), and then start delving into classical physics. Mathematical topics such as Levy distribution function and the Stirling's formula will be mentioned briefly but I won't spend much time on them, partly because you probably covered it already (Stirling's formula, e.g.) or you will deal with it in homework (Levy distribution). Please keep reading the book along with my notes! As I said in class, I find the book quite good, really.
Welcome to the Graduate Course in Statistical Physics!
In this course, you will learn statistical and thermal physics in-depth. The topics to be covered include fundamental topics of the classical and the quantum equilibrium statistical mechanics, the linear response theory and the renormalization group. You will also practice numerical methods. When properly followed, this course should enable you to gain solid understanding on how the random microscopic motions lead to sure macroscopic phenomena. You should also gain ability to perform basic and advanced statistical physics calculations.