8.333 Statistical Mechanics I: Statistical Mechanics of Particles

Fall 2005

Graphic of equilibrium in statistical mechanics.
Equilibrium in statistical mechanics: systems exchanging energy are most likely to have individual energies that maximize the overall number of states. (Image by Prof. Mehran Kardar.)

Course Highlights

This course features lecture notes, assignments, and exams with solutions.

Course Description

Statistical Mechanics is a probabilistic approach to equilibrium properties of large numbers of degrees of freedom. In this two-semester course, basic principles are examined. Topics include: thermodynamics, probability theory, kinetic theory, classical statistical mechanics, interacting systems, quantum statistical mechanics, and identical particles.
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Staff

Instructor:
Prof. Mehran Kardar

Course Meeting Times

Lectures:
Two sessions / week
1.5 hours / session

Recitations:
One session / week
1.5 hours / session

Level

Graduate

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