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Statistical Mechanics (Physics 260) Syllabus
Spring 2012, San Jose State University


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FINAL EXAM Friday, May 18th, 17:15-19:30. Study all the homework assignments and the corresponding material from the lecture notes and textbook (including review problems and midterm solutions). The exam is ``closed book'' but you may bring five pages of notes. Calculators are not needed; a book of mathematical formulas will be available if you forget a common formula or identity. The Final exam consists of six problems; each problem has multiple parts. Two of the problems are from the material covered in the first midterm; two from the second midterm; two from the material since the second midterm. You are not expected to finish the exam but do as many parts of as many problems as you can within the allotted time. Each problem is 25 points for a total of 150 points; the borderline between A's and B's is 80 points.

Lecture Notes (updated 5/9/12) - [Download PDF]

Homework Assignments
Homework #1: Due 1/31 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #2: Due 2/2 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #3: Due 2/7 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #4: Due 2/9 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #5: Due 2/14 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #6: Due 2/16 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #7: Due 2/21 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #8: Due 2/23 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #9: Due 2/28 [Download homework PDF]
No homework due on 3/1 (Midterm); No homework due on 3/6.
Homework #10: Due 3/8 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #11: Due 3/13 [Download homework PDF
Homework #12: Due 3/20 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #13: Due 3/20 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #14: Due 3/22 [Download homework PDF]
No homework due on 4/3 or 4/5 (Spring Break).
Homework #15: Due 4/10 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #16: Due 4/12 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #17: Due 4/17 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #18: Due 4/19 [Download homework PDF]
No homework due on 4/24 (Midterm) or 4/26.
Homework #19: Due 5/1 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #20: Due 5/3 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #21: Due 5/8 [Download homework PDF]
Homework #22: Due 5/10 [Download homework PDF]
No homework due on 5/15 (study for final exam on 5/18)

SECOND MIDTERM
Tuesday, April 24th. Study Homeworks #10-#18 and the corresponding material from the lecture notes (Chapters 5, 6, and 7) and textbook (Chapters 7, 8, 12, 13, and Appendices D, E). The exam is ``closed book'' but you may bring two pages of notes.
A calculator is needed briefly on one part of one problem; you may bring your own or use mine. A book of mathematical formulas will be available if you forget a common formula or identity.
The midterm consists of four problems; each problem has multiple parts. Three of the four problems are based on homework problems. Two problems are on quantum ideal gases and two problems are on Ising model or critical phenomena.
The problems are 30-45 points each for a total of 150 points. You are not expected to finish all the problems. Over 90 points is an A, between 90 and 70 points is a B, below 70 points is a C.

FIRST MIDTERM
Thursday, March 1st. Study Homeworks #1-#9 and the corresponding material from the lecture notes and textbook (Chapters 1, 2, and 3). The exam is ``closed book'' but you may bring two pages of notes. Calculators are not needed; a book of mathematical formulas will be available if you forget a common formula or identity. The midterm consists of three problems; each problem has multiple parts.



Course Specifics

Course description: This course will present an introduction to equilibrium statistical mechanics. Topics include: review of thermodynamics; theory of ensembles; ideal quantum gases; critical phenomena; fluctuations; computer simulations for interacting systems.

Textbook: Statistical Mechanics (Third Edition) by R. K. Pathria and Paul D. Beale; ISBN 0123821886. SJSU's library has this textbook available as an eBook here. Lectures will deviate from the textbook; lecture notes may be download here. You are encouraged to consult other textbooks, such as your undergraduate thermodynamics book.

Homework: Late homework will not be accepted. Homework solutions will be posted on this site. The curve for homework is: 85% or better is an A; 70% or better is a B; below 70% is a C.

Computers: You are encouraged to use symbolic manipulators to assist you with your homework as long as your solution displays a coherent, logical train of thought. In other words, your solution should contain enough intermediate steps as to be easily checked by hand.

Exams: There will be two midterm exams plus a final exam. Each exam will be based on problems similar to those assigned as homework. The tests will be open book. One sheet of notes and a calculator will be allowed in the exam. All exams will be curved. Final exam will be cumulative.

Grades: Towards the final grade, homework counts 35%; each midterm counts 20%; and the final counts 25%.


Tentative schedule of lectures

LectureTopicsDate
1Thermodynamics 1/26
2Thermodynamics 1/31
3Thermodynamics 2/2
4Ensemble Theory I 2/7
5Ensemble Theory I 2/9
6Ensemble Theory I 2/14
7Ensemble Theory I 2/16
8Ensemble Theory II 2/21
9Ensemble Theory II 2/23
10Review and Examples 2/28
11First Midterm 3/1
12Quantum Ideal Gases 3/6
13Fermi Gases 3/8
14White Dwarfs 3/13
15Boson Gases 3/15
16B-E Condensation 3/20
17Ising Model 3/22
- SPRING BREAK -
18Mean Field Models 4/3
19Bragg-Williams; 1D Ising 4/5
20Critical Phenomena I 4/10
21Critical Phenomena II 4/12
22Dense Gases I 4/17
23Dense Gases II 4/19
24Second Midterm 4/24
25Thermodynamic Fluctuations 4/26
26Brownian Motion 5/1
27Langevin Theory 5/3
28Monte Carlo Simulations 5/8
29Molecular Dynamics Simulations 5/10
30Stochastic Particle Methods 5/15

FINAL EXAM: Friday, May 18th, 17:15-19:30.


SJSU Boilerplate

Ethics: Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University's integrity policy, require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's language, images, data, or ideas without proper attribution. It is a very serious offense in both academic and professional environments. In essence, plagiarism is both theft and lying: you have stolen someone else's ideas, and then lied by implying that they are your own.

Learning when to cite a source, and when not to, is an art, not a science. However, here are some examples of plagiarism that you should be careful to avoid:
o If you use a sentence (or even a part of a sentence) that someone else wrote and do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
o If you paraphrase somebody else's theory or idea and do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
o If you use a picture or table from a web page or book and do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
o If your paper incorporates data someone else has collected and you do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
The SJSU library has a tutorial that explains how to identify and avoid plagiarism, available at: http://tutorials.sjlibrary.org/plagiarism/index.htm.

Disabilities: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities register with DRC to establish a record of their disability.

Emergencies: If you hear a continuous alarm or are told to evacuate the building, walk quickly to the nearest stairway at the end of each hall. Do not use the elevator. Take your personal belongings with you. Be quiet and follow instructions. Move away from the building and do not return until informed by police or coordinators.

Send comments to: algarcia@algarcia.org