This is a core course in Statistical Mechanics intended for all Physics graduate students at Purdue. The material covered is at a somewhat more advanced level than the typical undergraduate course on the subject. Topics will range from a treatment of the Boltzmann equation to an introduction to phase transitions and critical phenomena. A good knowledge of Thermodynamics is NECESSARY. If you have not taken a course in Thermodynamics a number of good books on the subject are available and should be studied before attending the course. Although a certain knowledge of mathematical methods for Physics (like for instance the material covered in PHYS-600 and PHYS-601 at Purdue) would be very useful, the course is mostly self-contained.

The course is not based on any particular textbook and class attendance will be crucial. The students are however urged to check out the available books in the Physics Library (click here for catalog ) which has a number of good texts on the subject.

A partial list of useful books (with Physics Library call numbers) is the following:

Huang, K. , Statistical Mechanics
(530.13 H86s c6)

Landau, L. D. , Statistical Physics (Part 1)
(530.132 L231sE, 1980)

Pathria, R. K. , Statistical Mechanics
(530.133 P273s)

Reichl, L. E. , A Modern Course in Statistical Physics
(530.1595 R271m 1998).

Tolman, R. C. , The Principles of Statistical Mechanics,
(530.13 T584p, 1979)

Wannier, G. H. , Statistical Physics
(536.7 W188s c2)

Ruelle , D., Statistical Mechanics: Rigorous Results
(530.132 R837s)

Reif, F. , Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics
(530.13 R272f c13)

Stanley, H. E. , Introduction to Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena
(536.401 St25i)

Ma, S-k. , Statistical Mechanics
(530.13 M11s)

NOTICE: These texts are on reserve, i.e. one copy will be available all Semester long for consultation at the Physics Library desk.

The current syllabus is provided here: syllabus .

The actual syllabus will be influenced by the performance of the class.

The final grade will be determined from the score earned in two exams (a midterm and a final ) and in the homework . The final grade will be determined from the score earned in two exams (a midterm and a final) and in the homework. The midterm exam and the homework will respectively count for 35 % and 25 % of the total score. The final examination will account for the remaining 40 %.

The homework is an integral part of the course. In the case of a passing grade, failure to have entered two or more homework sets will automatically lead to a lower letter grade than actually scored.
The homework will be graded for the Fall of 2004 by Stefano Chesi. Any problems with the grading of the homework will be dealt directly with the grader. The instructor will intervene only after any problems have been discussed between the grader and the student. The grader office is located in Room 105 in the Physics Building. The phone number is 49-61775. The grader office hours will be on 2pm-3pm on Monday. The grader can be contacted via email here: email the grader.

Attendance will be required as from revised Part 2, Section VI of University Regulations (in short: be there!). If you cannot attend a class for a justifiable reason, please alert the instructor of the problem.

In all cases PLEASE do get in touch with the instructor if (possibly BEFORE!) any problem should arise.