FY509: Thermal physics (10 ECTS)

STADS: 7000901

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.
3. and 4. quarter.

Teacher responsible
Email: jbp@ifk.sdu.dk

Additional teachers
ipsen@memphys.sdu.dk
svt@ifk.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
FY504 must be passed and FY507 Introductory Quantum mechanics must be followed simultaneously at the latest.

Course introduction
The course gives an introduction to the fundamental concepts of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics and shows their applications to selected physical and chemical systems and to the interpretation of experiments.

Qualifications
Knowledge of basic concepts and ability to assess the strengths and limitations of relevant theoretical models. Ability to understand the relationship between theory and experiments, and ability to treat the models numerically and theoretically.

Expected learning outcome


Subject overview
The course consists of two parts, of 5 ECTS points each.

Part 1:
The main topics are thermodynamics, basic statistical mechanics and quantum statistics.

- The basic concepts of thermal dynamics (state of functions, first and second law of thermodynamics, thermodynamics potentials and response functions) are derived and discussed using simple examples e.g. an ideal gas, a lattice gas or a simple polymer model.
- Basic relations between equilibrium fluctuations and susceptibility are examined.
- The statistical mechanics of the monoatomic ideal gas is developed from the quantum and classical description of the particles.
- Fermi and Bose statistics: Fermi energy, heat capacity and Fermi gases, Einstein and Debye theory of phonons, black-body radiation.
- Further examples considered: surface absorption, Langmuir isotherms, Ising paramagnetic model.
- A central subject is examined in more detail through an experimental activity (10 hrs.). Examples: quantum statistics properties or Fermigas, illustrated by semi conductor physics experiments.

The project assignment for this block will be based on the experimental activity carried out in the course and will involve allied theoretical issues.

Part 2:
The topics are kinetic gas theory, phase and chemical equilibrium and the mean field theory of interaction systems.

- Kinetic gas theory is discussed based on the Maxwell-Boltzmann’s distribution and on the concept of mean free path.
- Vibration and rotation spectra for diatomic molecules.
- Phase equilibrium, Clausius-Clayperon equation, chemical equilibrium, the law of mass action.
- Phase change are discussed, using e.g. the Van der Waals equation of state. Micro- and macro-canonical partition functions and ensembles are introduced and related to the fundamental principles of thermodynamics.
- Mean field theory of interacting systems: Debye-Hückel theory for diluted ionic solutions, Ising systems.


Literature

Oplyses senere.

Syllabus
See syllabus.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
Part 1 is evaluated based on a written report dealing with the experimental activity and related theoretical issues. Deadline for the project is decided by the department.

Evaluation part 1:

Project repport. Internal examiner. Marks according to the Danish 13-scale.

Part 2 is evaluated by a theoretical /numeric assignment done in groups of min. 2 and max. 3 students, followed by an oral examination.

The final mark is based on the average of the marks obtained for the two projects and the final oral examination.

If the final mark is 5 or below, the results for the two reports do not count in a successive trial and the full procedure is to be repeated.

Evaluation part 2:

Oral exam: Eksternal axaminer. Marks according to the Danish 13-scale.
Projectrepport in part 2: Internal examiner. 13-scale.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.

14+14=28 forelæsninger.
14+14=28 eksaminatorietimer/opgaveregning.
10 + 12 = 22 laboratorieøvelser og computerøvelser.
Educational activities

Language
No recorded information about the language used in the course.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.