Formal background of statistical mechanics. Classical simple fluids. Integral equation for correlation functions. Phase transitions. Mean field theory. The Ising model. Analytical solutions. Renormalization theory. Percolation and disorder.
SI2510 Statistical Mechanics 7.5 credits
Information per course offering
Information for Autumn 2024 Start 26 Aug 2024 programme students
- Course location
AlbaNova
- Duration
- 26 Aug 2024 - 27 Oct 2024
- Periods
- P1 (7.5 hp)
- Pace of study
50%
- Application code
50205
- Form of study
Normal Daytime
- Language of instruction
English
- Course memo
- Course memo is not published
- Number of places
Places are not limited
- Target group
- No information inserted
- Planned modular schedule
- [object Object]
- Schedule
- Part of programme
Contact
Egor Babaev (babaev@kth.se)
Course syllabus as PDF
Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.
Course syllabus SI2510 (Spring 2022–)Headings with content from the Course syllabus SI2510 (Spring 2022–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
Intended learning outcomes
The aim is to give additional knowledge in thermodynamics and statistical physics to what is given in the compulsory courses for F3. The main contents of the course is theory for phase transitions. After finished course the student should be able to:
- Describe, use and develop mean field theory for first and second order phase transitions.
- Realize the limitations of mean field theory.
- Realize the importance and strength of scaling arguments and be able to use such arguments.
- Be able to perform real space renormalization for simple models.
- Have knowledge about and be able to use the fundamental concepts in the theory of classical fluids.
- Ha knowledge about the structure of the solutions to a small number of analytically solvable models.
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
English B / English 6
Recommended prerequisites
Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics corresponding to SI1162 and modern physics corresponding to SH1014.
Equipment
No information inserted
Literature
No information inserted
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Examination
- TENA - Examination, 7.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
Other requirements for final grade
Requirements for final grade: One written exam (TENA; 7,5 university credits)
Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination
No information inserted
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Yes
Examiner
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
Course room in Canvas
Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.
Offered by
Main field of study
Physics
Education cycle
Second cycle
Add-on studies
No information inserted
Contact
Egor Babaev (babaev@kth.se)