Registry
Module Specifications
Archived Version 2015 - 2016
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Description The aims of the module are to analyse the behaviour of large number of quantum particles using statistical methods and to show how these can be used to calculate the structure and properties of solids, liquids, gases and light. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Learning Outcomes 1. Explain the fundamental nature of the concepts of temperature and entropy at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels and their relationship. 2. Predict the microscopic states of systems of bosons and fermions and their total energy in the quantum and classical limits. 3. Outline the results of the particle-in-the-box model and notably the concept of density of states and its role in statiscal mechanics 4. Explain how the macroscopic properties of localised and classical particles can be obtained using the concept of partition function. 5. Outline the properties of the fermion gas in general and of the degenerate electron gas, in particular, to obtain a basic model for the structure of metals. 6. Outline the basic properties of the boson gas, in general, and of the photon gas in particular. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indicative Content and
Learning Activities Lecture Series: Classical ThermodymanicsMacroscopic state of thermodynamic systems, First and Second laws: Temperature and entropy, Gibbs-Duhem equation, Thermodynamic potentialsLecture series: states of systems of quantum particlesMicrostates of individual particles, configurations of systems of particles. Distinguishable and indistinguishable particles, most probable configuration, fluctuations.Tutorials and Worked problemsCounting, arrangements and combinations, distributions, Stirling approximationLecture Series: Methods of Statistical PhysicsPostulates, Extremum Principle, Lagrange multipliers, Work and heat, Statistical interpretation of entropy and temperature.Lecture Series: Maxwell-Boltzmann DistributionThe partition function, Definition, Partition function and thermodymanics, Domains of validity of M.B statistics for quantum systems, Applications of Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution: The two-level system, The ideal monoatomic gas, The one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, Internal degrees of freedom, The diatomic molecule, The chemical potential of an ideal diatomic gas, Equilibrium conditions and dissociationTutorials and Worked problemsThe Spin-flip system/paramagnetsLecture Series: Quantum StatisticsThe Ideal Fermion Gas, General Properties, Applications:Free electron theory of metals, Model for the atomic nucleus, White dwarf stars. The Ideal Boson Gas, General Properties, Applications: The Photon Gas, The Bose-Einstein Condensation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indicative Reading List
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Resources | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Programme or List of Programmes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Archives: |
|