Course Details
Subject {L-T-P / C} : CY5301 : Statistical Thermodynamics { 3-0-0 / 3}
Subject Nature : Theory
Coordinator : Prof. Jaya Prakash Madda
Syllabus
Equilibrium Thermodynamics: Thermodynamic Equilibrium state, brief overview of laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamic potentials, stability criteria, phase equilibria. Ensembles in Statistical Mechanics: Ensemble postulate and ergodicity, microcanonical, canonical and grand canonical ensembles, phase space, fluctuations. Noninteracting particles: Distribution laws, partition functions, thermodynamics quantities in terms of partition functions, quantum correlations, collective modes, fermions, bosons, photons, factorization of the molecular partition function. Application to chemical systems (interacting particles): Ideal gases residual entropy, the liquid states interparticle potentials, configurational partition functions, pair correlation function, neutron scattering experiments, virial equation, solutions lattice model, ideal and non-ideal solutions, solutions of electrolytes Debye-Huckel theory and its modifications, Computer simulations ensemble averages, random numbers, Monte Carlo methods, Molecular dynamics, linear response theory, fluctuation dissipation theorem, time correlation functions, transport coefficients. Case studies: helix-coil transition in polypeptides etc.
Course Objectives
- The course aims to focus on the details of microscopic picture of thermodynamics.
- Student would be able to develop strong understanding of the macroscopic phenomena from a microscopic or molecular point of view.
Course Outcomes
The course aims to focus on the details of microscopic picture of thermodynamics. Student would be expected to develop strong understanding of the macroscopic phenomena from a microscopic or molecular point of view.
Essential Reading
- Peter Atkins, Julio De Paula, Physical Chemistry, Oxford , Indian ninth edition.
- Donald A. McQuarrie, Statistical Mechanics, University Science Books.
Supplementary Reading
- D. Chandler, Introduction to Statistical Mechanics, Oxford University Press , 1987
- Donald McQuarrie, John Simon, Heather Cox, Physical Chemistry: A molecular approach, VIVA student Edition