Statistical Physics (FYS340)

The subject gives an introduction to statistical physics.


Course description for study year 2024-2025

Facts

Course code

FYS340

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Spring

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Spring

Language of instruction

English, Norwegian

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

First and second law of thermodynamics. Perfect quantum gas. Second quantisation, Many-particle states, Density Matrix, Fock Space, Partition Function. Free electron gas, Fermi-Dirac statistics, Bose-Einstein statistics, Canonical, Macrocanonical ensembles, Phase transitions, Spin-models.

Note that the exam language will be the same as the teaching language.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the student should:

  • Understand and apply the connection between micro and macro states for thermodynamical systems.
  • Have a good understanding of classical and quantum statistical systems.
  • Know about different thermodynamical phenonema at the microscopic level, including phase transitions, heat capacity, magnetisations, spin systems.
  • Be able to perform detailed computations for such systems.

Required prerequisite knowledge

FYS200 Thermo- and Fluid Dynamics, STA100 Probability and Statistics 1

Recommended prerequisites

FYS320 Quantum Mechanics, FYS330 Micro Physics

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Oral exam 1/1 30 Minutes Letter grades

The oral exam is individual.

Coursework requirements

Oral Presentation

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Eero Aleksi Kurkela

Head of Department:

Bjørn Henrik Auestad

Method of work

6 hours lectures/ exercises per week. Language: Norwegian or English.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Statistical Physics and Solid State Physics (FYS310_1) 5

Open for

Mathematics and Physics - Five Year Integrated Master's Degree Programme
Exchange programme at Faculty of Science and Technology

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital subject evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

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