Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Statistical Physics
Module Code	PS302
School	School of Physical Sciences
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Jean-Paul Mosnier Semester 2: Jean-Paul Mosnier Autumn: Jean-Paul Mosnier
Module Teacher	Jean-Paul Mosnier
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

The aims of the module are to analyse the behaviour of large number of quantum particles using statistical methods and to show how these can be used to calculate the structure and properties of solids, liquids, gases and light.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the fundamental nature of the concepts of temperature and entropy at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels and their relationship.
2. Predict the microscopic states of systems of bosons and fermions and their total energy in the quantum and classical limits.
3. Outline the results of the particle-in-the-box model and notably the concept of density of states and its role in statiscal mechanics
4. Explain how the macroscopic properties of localised and classical particles can be obtained using the concept of partition function.
5. Outline the properties of the fermion gas in general and of the degenerate electron gas, in particular, to obtain a basic model for the structure of metals.
6. Outline the basic properties of the boson gas, in general, and of the photon gas in particular.

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	24	In class instruction using computerised presentations.
Tutorial	6	Numerical problems and worked examples. Integrated with lecture series
Independent learning time	100	Study of course material, preparation of in class tests, revision for end of semester examination
Total Workload: 130

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Lecture Series: Classical Thermodymanics.
Macroscopic state of thermodynamic systems, First and Second laws: Temperature and entropy, Gibbs-Duhem equation, Thermodynamic potentials.

Lecture series: states of systems of quantum particles.
Microstates of individual particles, configurations of systems of particles. Distinguishable and indistinguishable particles, most probable configuration, fluctuations..

Tutorials and Worked problems.
Counting, arrangements and combinations, distributions, Stirling approximation.

Lecture Series: Methods of Statistical Physics.
Postulates, Extremum Principle, Lagrange multipliers, Work and heat, Statistical interpretation of entropy and temperature..

Lecture Series: Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution.
The partition function, Definition, Partition function and thermodymanics, Domains of validity of M.B statistics for quantum systems, Applications of Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution: The two-level system, The ideal monoatomic gas, The one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, Internal degrees of freedom, The diatomic molecule, The chemical potential of an ideal diatomic gas, Equilibrium conditions and dissociation.

Tutorials and Worked problems.
The Spin-flip system/paramagnets.

Lecture Series: Quantum Statistics.
The Ideal Fermion Gas, General Properties, Applications:Free electron theory of metals, Model for the atomic nucleus, White dwarf stars. The Ideal Boson Gas, General Properties, Applications: The Photon Gas, The Bose-Einstein Condensation.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	25%	Examination Weight	75%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
In Class Test	First in class test: problem with 3/4 short numerical questions. On counting and particle in box model only.	12%	Week 5
In Class Test	Second in class test: problem with 3/4 short numerical questions. On Maxwell-Boltzmann chapter only	13%	Week 10

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 3

Indicative Reading List

Mike Glazer and Justin Wark: 2001, Statistical Mechanics A Survival Guide, First edition, Chapters 1-9, Oxford University Press, 0 19 850815 8,
Jean-Paul Mosnier/Moodle Notes/DCU: 2009, Statistical Physics,
F. Mandl: 2002, Statistical Physics, Second Edition, 2002 reprint, Chapters 1-7, 9-11, Wiley,
L.D. Landau and E.M. Lifshitz: 2001, Statistical Physics, 3rd Edition, part1, Butterworth Heinemann,

Other Resources

None

Array

Programme or List of Programmes

BSc in Applied Physics

BSSA

Study Abroad (DCU Business School)

BSSAO

Study Abroad (DCU Business School)

ECSA

Study Abroad (Engineering & Computing)

ECSAO