PEP 555 Statistical Physics and Kinetic Theory
Kinetic theory: ideal gases, distribution functions, Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, Boltzmann equation, H-theorem and entropy, and simple transport theory. Thermodynamics: review of first and second laws, thermodynamic potentials, Legendre transformation, and phase transitions. Elementary statistical mechanics: introduction to microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical distributions, partition functions, simple applications, including ideal Maxwell-Boltzmann, Einstein-Bose, and Fermi-Dirac gases, paramagnetic systems, and blackbody radiation.
Prerequisite
PEP 330 or (Grad Student)
Distribution
Department of PhysicsOffered
Fall Semester