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Readings

Listed in the table below are reading assignments for each lecture session.

A and B refer to the course textbooks:

A: Amazon logo Adkins, C.J. Equilibrium Thermodynamics. New York City, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1983. ISBN: 9780521274562.

B: Amazon logo Baierlein, Ralph. Thermal Physics. New York City, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1999. ISBN: 9780521658386.

The rest of the readings, listed as P, TS, ME, IA, MR, and CE, are from the notes available in Study Materials.

LEC # TOPICS KEY DATES
1 Introduction
Probability density, Cumulative probability		 P: One Random Variable (1st half)
2 Probability examples, Averages, Poisson distribution P: One Random Variable (2nd half)
3 Two random variables, Conditional probability P: Two Random Variables (1st half)
4 Poisson distribution derived, jointly Gaussian random variables P: Two Random Variables (2nd half)
5 Functions of a Random Variable P: Functions of a Random Variable (1st half)
6 Functions of a Random Variable (more than one) P: Functions of a Random Variable (2nd half)
7 Summation and convolution P: Sums of Random Variables
8 Central Limit Theorem P: Central Limit Theorem
9 Introduction to Thermodynamics, Zeroth Law, Empirical temperature A: Ch. 1, 2
TS: pg. 1-3
10 Temperature scale, Work A: Ch. 1, 2
11 Exact differentials, First Law of Thermodynamics A: Ch. 3.1-3.6
12 Ideal gas, Adiabatic path B: Ch. 1
13 Phase space, Equal a priori probabilities  
14 Microcanonical Ensemble, Entropy B: Ch. 2, 4.3
ME: Sections 1-3
15 Second Law of Thermodynamics, Examples using entropy B: Ch 2. 4.3
ME: Sections 4-6
16 Two level system ME: Section 7
17 Entropy as a state function  
18 Maxwell relations, Thermodynamic potentials A: Ch. 7
MR: pg. 1-5
19 Equivalent statements of the Second Law, Carnot Engine B: Ch. 3
20 Refrigerator, Heat pump, Other examples A: Ch. 4
CE: pg. 1-4
21 Canonical Ensemble, Boltzmann probability, Partition function B: Ch. 5.1-5.2
22 Monoatomic ideal gas calculation B: Ch. 5.4-5.8
23 Two level system B: Ch. 5.2
24 Equipartition, Polyatomic gas, Vibration & quantum harmonic oscillator B: Ch. 13
25 Finish harmonic oscillator, Molecular rotations B: Ch. 13
26 Finish rotations, Maxwell distribution B: Ch. 13
27 Paramagnetism B: Ch. 5.2, 14.1-14.3
28 Adiabatic demagnetism, 3rd Law of Thermodynamics, Thermal radiation B: Ch. 14.4, 6
29 Blackbody thermodynamics, Stephan-Boltzmann Law, Counting Modes B: Ch. 6
30 Classical and quantum blackbody u (ω,T) B: Ch. 6
31 Chemical potential B: Ch. 7
32 Indistinguishable particles, Symmetric vs. antisymmetric B: Ch. 8
33 Occupation number, Fermi gas B: Ch. 8
34 Fermi gas II B: Ch. 9
35 Neutron star B: Ch. 9
36 Bose-Einstein Condensation B: Ch. 9
37 Finish Bose-Einstein Condensation, Summary B: Ch. 9
Final Exam