Physics and Astronomy - Course Details
PHYS617: Statistical Mechanics (PAST/FUTURE SEMESTER)
Offering:
Spring, Class 3, cr. 3
Prerequisites:
PHYS-600 or equivalent
View Additional Prerequisites
Description:
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.
Instructor(s):
FISCHBACH, EPHRAIM
Email:
ephraim@purdue.edu
Textbook(s) for Spring 2022
| Title | Author | Edition | ISBN | Publisher | Req/Opt | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics | F. Reif | 1st | 978-1577666127 | Waveland Pr Inc | Required | |
| Statistical Mechanics | R. K. Pathria, Paul Beale | 3rd | 978-0123821881 | Academic Press | Optional |
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