After successful completion of the course, students are able to formulate the basics of thermodynamics and the extrapolation to statistical mechanics in phase space, to calculate with quantum statistics, to describe the properties of Fermi and Bose gases as well as to analyse photon and phonon statistics. Due to the accompanied exercises students learn to independently solve various problems in the field of thermodynamics and quantum statistical mechanics, to present their results in front of a small group and to discuss different aspects of the exercise.

• historical overview
• basics of thermodynamics
• classical statistical mechanics in phase space
• quantum statistical mechanics
• ideal Bose- and Fermi gases
• statistical mechanics of photons and phonons

Lecture with strong and active students participation through questions and votings, accompanied tutorial during which lecture relevant problems are independently solved and presented on the board.

First lecture: Tue, 2.3.2021 at 9:15 online. The link will be provided in the corresponding TUWEL-course.

Further dates:

Lecture part of VU:
Every Tue 9:15 - 10:45 am

Exercise lecture:
Every second Wed 9:15 - 10:00 am

Exercise classes:
Alternatingly with the exercise lecture every second Fr 10:15 - 11:00 am

Depending on the current COVID-situation the tests will be held online, or in written or oral form. In case of online tests we will apply verbal and randomly chosen examinations to check the plausibility of the answers. The verbal checks will be performed after the online tests and the dates for it will be announced.

W. Nolting, Grundkurs: Theoretische Physik VI  
F. Schwabl, Statistische Mechanik
E. Rebhan, Theoretische Physik: Thermodynamik und Statistik  
T. Fliessbach, Statistische Physik
L.D. Landau, E.M. Lifschitz, Statistische Physik, Teil 1 (fortgeschritten)
K. Huang, Statistical Mechanics (fortgeschritten)

Thermodynamics, mechanics, quantum mechanics.