Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics

5 credits

Statistical ensembles: microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical formulations; principle of maximum entropy. Thermodynamics: thermodynamic potentials, phase equilibria, entropy of mixing. Quantum statistics: photon statistics; ideal Bose and Fermi gases. Interacting systems: Ising model, liquids and plasmas. Phase transitions: van der Waals system, mean field theory, Landau theory, global symmetries, fluctuations. Prerequisites: PHYS 200A, 212A-B.