Office of Academic Affairs
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal
PHY 309: Thermal Physics (4)
Learning Objectives:
The course aims to lay down foundations of thermodynamics along with introduction to phenomenon of phase transitions and critical phenomenon.
Course Contents:
Kinetic theory of gases: Statistical definition of temperature, Boltzmann function, Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, molecular distribution, molecular effusion, mean free path and collisions, transport and thermal diffusion: viscosity, thermal conductivity and diffusion, the Prandtl number.
Review of basic thermodynamics: Thermodynamic systems: hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic, first law of thermodynamics, second law of thermodynamics, Claussius theorem, thermodynamic and statistical definition of entropy, entropy of mixing (Gibbs paradox), entropy and probability, the TdS, internal energy and heat capacity equations and their applications.
Thermodynamics in action: Entropy and information theory (Shannon’s entropy), Thermodynamic potential functions and their applications, Maxwell relations, Throttling/Joule-Thomson expansion, Liquefaction of gases, adiabatic demagnetization for milli/micro Kelvin temperatures, entropy of elastic rod (rubber and wire), third law of thermodynamics and its implications, chemical potential, energy maximum and entropy minimum principle, the Gibbs-Duhem relation.
Phase transitions: Claussius-clayperon equation, stability and metastability, Le Chatelier's and Le Chatelier-Baun principle, latent heat, chemical potential and phase changes, classification/order of phase transitions, order parameter, Gibbs phase rule, colligative properties, phase transitions of single and multicomponent systems, eutectic point, Landau theory of phase transitions, universality and scaling, renormalization (introduction).
Special topics: Brownian motion and fluctuations: Brownian motion, Johnson noise, fluctuations and availability.
Non-equilibrium thermodynamics: entropy production, thermoelectricity, Osnager relations, time reveral and the arrow of time.
Suggested Books:
- Concepts in Thermal Physics, by Blundell and Blundell
- Heat and Thermodynamics, by Zemansky and Dittman
- An Introduction to Thermal Physics, by D.V. Schroeder
- Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatics, by H.B. Callen
- Thermodynamics, by E. Fermi
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