Statistical physics is the branch of physics that describes many-body systems with methods from probability theory and statistics. In this course, we focus on interacting systems and out-of-equilibrium systems.
Prerequisites
It is strongly recommended to have followed an introductory course on Statistical Physics, such as
Statistical Physics A or Termodynamika i fizyka statystyczna R.
Organisation
The course will start on 3 October 2024.
Lecturer: Jeffrey Everts, room 5.32
Classes: Every Wednesday, 12:15 - 15:00, room 2.06
Tutorials: Every Thursday, 16:15 - 19:00, room 1.38
Midterm exam: Monday 25 November 2024, 09:00-13:00, room 1.02
Final exam: Monday 27 January 2025, 09:00-13:00, room 1.02
Retake exam: Monday 17 February 2025, 09:00-13:00, room 1.38
Always check updated schedule here.
Grading: Mid-term exam (30%), hand-in exercises (30%), final exam (40%).
Material
Lecture notes (LN) (work in progress)
An introduction to Modern Statistical Mechanics by David Chandler (DC)
Theory of simple liquids by Jean-Pierre Hansen and Ian McDonald (HM)
Non-equilibrium thermodynamics by Sybren de Groot and Peter Mazur (GM)
Lectures
Lecture 1 (03-10-2024): Introduction, ensemble theory. See also DC: Chapters 3+4.
Lecture 2 (09-10-2024): Classical limit, classical ideal gas, model potentials, gas vs liquid vs solid. See LN 2.1-2.2 and DC: 7.1. Slides can be found here.
Lecture 3 (16-10-2024): Virial expansions, start with density-density correlation functions. See LN 2.3-2.4 and DC: 7.2. Slides can be found here.
Lecture 4 (23-10-2024): Routes to thermodynamics, structure factor. See LN 2.5 and DC: 7.3-7.5.
Lecture 5 (30-10-2024): Ornstein-Zernike equation, hard spheres in the Percus-Yevick approximation, condensation. See LN 2.6, 4.1 and DC 2.2-2.3. Slides can be found here.
Lecture 6 (06-11-2024): Functional derivative, classical density functional theory, hierarchy of correlation functions, proof of Ornstein-Zernike equation. See LN 3.1-3.2 and HM 3.1-3.4.
Lecture 7 (13-11-2024): Derivation of sum rules via DFT, gas-liquid interface, effective interactions. See LN 3.3-3.4 and HM 6.2-6.3.
Lecture 8 (20-11-2024): Debye-Hückel theory of bulk ionic solutions, Poisson-Boltzmann theory. See HM 10.6-10.7.
Lecture 9 (27-11-2024): Landau theory of phase transitions, Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation, spontaneous symmetry breaking, nematic liquid crystals. See DC 5.1-5.5.
Lecture 10 (04-12-2024): Types of liquid crystals, Onsager theory, nematic elasticity, anchoring, electric field effects. Slides can be found here.
Lecture 11 (11-12-2024): Linear irreversible thermodynamics, phenomenological equations, entropy production, Onsager reciprocity. See relevant sections in GM Chapters 3+4+7 and DC Chapter 1.
Lecture 12 (18-12-2024): Thermohydrodynamics, Curie principle, spinodal decomposition, nucleation and growth. See relevant sections in GM Chapters 2-4. Slides can be found here.
Lecture 13 (08-01-2025):
Lecture 14 (15-01-2025):
Lecture 15 (22-01-2025):
Tutorials
Problem set 1 (03-10-2024)
Problem set 2 (10-10-2024) Hand-in sheet 1 (due 17-10-2024, 16:15)
Problem set 3 (17-10-2024)
Problem set 4 (24-10-2024)
Problem set 5 (31-10-2024) Hand-in sheet 2 (due 07-11-2024, 16:15)
Problem set 6 (07-11-2024)
Problem set 7 (14-11-2024)
Problem set 8 (21-11-2024) Hand-in sheet 3 (due 05-12-2024, 16:15)
Problem set 9 (28-11-2024)
Problem set 10 (05-12-2024) Hand-in sheet 4 (due 19-12-2024, 16:15)
Problem set 11 (12-12-2024)
No tutorial on 19-12-2024 due to Christmas gatherings at the University
Problem set 12 (09-01-2025)
Problem set 13 (16-01-2025)
Question hour on 23-01-2025
Previous exams
The exams of the course Topics in Modern Statistical Physics (TiMSP) are representative of what you can expect for the exams in Statistical Physics B. The only difference between the two courses is that in the former more emphasis was put on Soft Matter, whereas in the latter we will put more emphasis on non-equilibrium processes.
Mid-term exam TiMSP (2023-2024)
Final exam TiMSP (2023-2024)