The table below provides information on the course's lecture (L) and recitation (R) sessions.
Course calendar.
| SES # |
Topics |
Key Dates |
| I. Thermodynamics |
| L1 |
Fundamental Definitions, The Zeroth Law, The First Law |
Problem set 1 out |
| L2 |
The Second Law, Carnot Engines and Thermodynamic Temperature, Entropy |
|
| L3 |
Approach to Equilibrium and Thermodynamic Potentials, Useful Mathematical Results |
|
| L4 |
Stability Conditions, The Third Law |
Problem set 2 out |
| R1 |
Recitation |
|
| II. Probability |
| L5 |
General Definitions, One Random Variable, Some Important Probability Distributions |
Problem set 1 due 1 day before Ses #L5
Problem set 3 out |
| R2 |
Recitation |
|
| L6 |
Many Random Variables, Sums of Random Variables and the Central Limit Theorem, Rules for Large Numbers, Information, Entropy, and Estimation |
Problem set 2 due |
| III. Kinetic Theory of Gases |
| L7 |
General Definitions, Liouville's Theorem |
Problem set 4 out |
| R3 |
Recitation |
|
| L8 |
The Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon Hierarchy, The Boltzmann Equation |
Problem set 3 due |
| L9 |
The H-Theorem and Irreversibility, Equilibrium Properties |
Problem set 5 out |
| R4 |
Recitation |
|
| L10 |
Conservation Laws |
Problem set 4 due
Problem set 6 out |
| R5 |
Recitation |
|
| L11 |
Zeroth Order Hydrodynamics, First Order Hydrodynamics |
|
| IV. Classical Statistical Mechanics |
| L12 |
General Definitions, The Microcanonical Ensemble, Two-Level Systems |
Problem set 7 out |
| R6 |
Recitation |
Problem set 5 due |
|
Midterm Quiz |
|
| L13 |
The Ideal Gas, Mixing Entropy and Gibbs' Paradox, The Canonical Ensemble |
|
| L14 |
Examples, The Gibbs Canonical Ensemble, The Grand Canonical Ensemble |
Problem set 8 out |
| V. Interacting Particles |
| L15 |
The Cumulant Expansion |
Problem set 6 due |
| R7 |
Recitation |
|
| L16 |
The Cluster Expansion |
Problem set 9 out |
| L17 |
The Second Virial Coefficient and Van der Waals Equation, Breakdown of the Van der Waals Equation, Mean Field Theory of Condensation |
Problem set 7 due |
| L18 |
Variational Methods, Corresponding States, Critical Point Behavior |
|
| VI. Quantum Statistical Mechanics |
| L19 |
Dilute Polyatomic Gases, Vibrations of a Solid, Black-body Radiation |
Problem set 8 due |
| L20 |
Quantum Microstates, Quantum Macrostates |
Problem set 10 out |
| R8 |
Recitation |
|
| VII. Ideal Quantum Gases |
| L21 |
Hilbert Space of Identical Particles |
|
| L22 |
Canonical Formulation, Grand Canonical Formulation |
Problem set 9 due
Problem set 11 out |
| L23 |
Non-relativistic Gas, The Degenerate Fermi Gas |
|
| R9 |
Recitation |
Problem set 12 out |
| L24 |
The Degenerate Bose Gas |
Problem set 10 due |
| L25 |
Superfluid He4 |
|
| R10 |
Recitation |
|
| L26 |
Superfluid He4 (cont.) |
Problem set 11 due |
| R11 |
Recitation |
Problem set 12 due |
| R12 |
Recitation |
|
|
Final Exam |
|