This coarse give an elementary introduction to thermal physics and statistical mechanics. It is assumed that the student is familiar with elementary classical mechanics and quantum mechanics. The textbook is Thermal Physics by Kittel and Kroemer. It shoould be available in the University book store. The first class will meet on Tuesday January 24th from 9.50 - 11.10 in Library N-4072.
The following is a list of topics I plan to discuss in the lecture:
| Temperature | Landau-Ginzberg Potential |
| Entropy | Kinetic Theory |
| Boltzmann Factor | Boltzmann Equation |
| Helmholtz Free Energy | Diffusion |
| Planck Distribution | Semiconductors |
| Chemical Potential | Joule-Thomson Effect |
| Helmholtz Free Energy | Microcanonical Ensemble |
| Ideal Gas | Canonical Ensemble |
| Fermi Gases | Grand Canonical Ensemble |
| Bose Gases | Degenerate Fermi Gas |
| Specific Heat | Bose-Einistein Condensation |
| Carnot Cycle | White Dwarfs |
| Phase Transitions |
TA: to be announced
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With regards to holidays we will follow the offical University Calendar