# PHY1500H S GENERAL Statistical Mechanics

## Official description

1. Brief review of thermodynamics
2. Louville's theorem and statistical ensemble
3. Basic assumptions of statistical mechanics
4. Microcanonical ensemble
5. Canonical ensemble
6. Grand canonical ensemble
7. Ideal Fermion system
8. Ideal Boson system
9. Interacting Particle System
10. Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena

B. Basics of statistical mechanics

Ensembles and probability distributions, Ergodic and mixing behavior

Entropy, definition and fundamental properties

Constraints and entropy maximum principle

Open systems, The canonical and grand canonical ensembles

Partition function and free energy, Illustrations

C. Survey of Thermodynamics

Statistical definitions of thermodynamic quantities

Statistical meaning of equilibrium, The Thermodynamic laws

Equations of state for gases

Perfect gases, including internal degrees of freedom

Imperfect gases, Phase and chemical equilibria

D. Application of statistical mechanical methods

Bose gas, Fermi gas, Photons, Phonons, Magnetism

Textbook
                            ['Statistical Mechanics 3rd Edition', 'R.K. Pathria and P.D. Beale', 'Elsevier 2011']

course title
PHY1500H S GENERAL
session
winter
group
general course
time and location
Tuesdays 9 am - 10 am, Wednesdays 9 am - 10 am
Course URL
https://www.physics.utor…
instructor

#### Delivery Methods

In Person

A course is considered In Person if it requires attendance at a specific location and time for some or all course activities.*.

* Subject to adjustments imposed by public health requirements for physical distancing.

Online - Synchronous
A course is considered Online Synchronous if online attendance is expected at a specific time for some or all course activities, and attendance at a specific location is not expected for any activities or exams.
Asynchronous
A course is considered Asynchronous if it has no requirement for attendance at a specific time or location for any activities or exams.