Statistical Physics

Basic notions of Thermodynamics. Principles of Statistical Mechanics. Microcanonical and canonical ensembles. Ideal gases and van der Waals gas. Phase equlibrium. Grand canonical ensemble. Bose and Fermi gases. Diamagnetism and paramagnetism. Ferromagnetism: variational method and mean field. Two-dimensional Ising model: Kramers-Wannier duality. An introduction to Conformal Invariance. The approach of equilibrium.

Physical Sciences

Exposing students to a detailed description of equilibrium Statistical Physics, with emphasis also on its formal links with Quantum Mechanics, while also exploring important applications to atoms, molecules and other systems. The examples will touch upon ideas and results to be revisited in more advanced courses, and will occasionally highlight the limits of our current understanding. Some aspects of the approach of equilibrium will be addressed.

60h

90

Oral Examination,Written Examination

30

Scuola Normale Superiore

Scuola Normale Superiore

Classe di Scienze