Statistical Physics and Thermodynamics

Code: FIS14145L

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Physics

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

The student should be able to understand how to describe the behavior of physical systems containing a macroscopic number of particles and describe the transformations that occur in physical systems which change their state.

Sustainable Development Goals

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Energia limpa e acessível - Garantir acesso à energia barata, confiável, sustentável e renovável para todos.

Learning Goals

To understand how to describe the behavior of physical systems containing a macroscopic number of particles. Describe the transformations that occur in physical systems which change their state.

Concept of probability and probability density. Gaussian distribution and gaussian integrals. Phase-space in classical systems and Hamilton equations. Microstate of a system. Microcanonical distribution ofr isolated systems. Irrelevance of fluctuations for macroscopic systems. Entropy and counting of microstates. Variation of entropy: reverssible and irreversible processes. Canonical distribution and temperature. Applications: classical gas (Maxwell) and spin systems (paramagnetism and magnetic susceptibility). Partition function and calculation of a system's properties (pressure, energy, entropy,....). Equation of state for perfect gas and its energy. Differentials of Gibbs and Helmoltz free energies. Equilibrium of a subsystem. (In)distinguishability and Gibbs paradox. Grand-canonical distribution and its applications. Quantum statistics: bosons and fermions. Blackbody radiation. Bose and Fermi gases.

Teaching Methods

Exposition of the syllabus in lectures, including problem solving and some experiments in the lab. EVALUATION: two optional written tests or, alternatively, an exam in the normal epoch. Existence of a second-call examination accessible to all students. In the normal epoch the score is either the average of the two tests or the normal exam. The final score is the highest between the normal and second-call epoch.