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Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal
CHM 421: Statistical Mechanics (4)
Prerequisites: CHM 222/PHY 309, CHM 322/PHY 303
Learning Objectives:
Statistical mechanics is a theoretical framework that allows establishing a bridge between the microscopic world and the behavior of macroscopic material which is amenable to experiment. The main objective of this course is to develop an understanding of the statistical nature of the laws of thermodynamics and calculate the physical properties of systems starting from the interactions between the constituent particles. We will discuss the basic principles of statistical mechanics and its applications to various physical and chemical processes in many-body systems.
Course Contents:
Review of classical thermodynamics: Laws of thermodynamics and thermodynamic potentials, Legendre transforms and derivative relations, conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium and stability.
Elementary probability theory: Definition of probability, distribution functions and moments, average, variance and binomial distribution for large numbers and central limit theorem, statistical concept of uncertainty.
Fundamental principles of statistical mechanics: Macroscopic and microscopic states, fundamental postulates of statistical mechanics, statistical mechanical ensembles and their distribution functions, partition functions, entropy and Boltzmann distribution law, relation between partition functions and thermodynamic quantities in different ensembles, and fluctuations.
Ideal systems: Monatomic, diatomic and polyatomic gases and calculation of partition functions, heat capacities of gases, equipartition theorem and the Maxwell velocity distribution, Gibbs paradox, ortho- and para-hydrogen, blackbody radiation, heat capacities of solids (Einstein and Debye models), chemical equilibrium in ideal gas mixtures, photon and phonon gas systems of quantum particles and concept of different populations (Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics), distribution function of ideal Bose and Fermi gases, classical limits of quantum systems.
Suggested Readings :
- Callen, H. B., Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics, Ed. 2nd, Wiley, 1985.
- Hill, T. L., An Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics, Dover, 1987.
- McQuarrie, D. A., Statistical Mechanics, University Science Books, 2000.
- Widom, B., Statistical Mechanics: A Concise Introduction for Chemists, Cambridge University Press, 2002.
- Chandler, D., Introduction to Modern Statistical Mechanics, Oxford University Press, 1987.
- Pathria, R. K., Statistical Mechanics, Ed. 2nd, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1996.
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