| Web page of the course on Blackboard | |
| Login site: | http://elms.umd.edu/ |
| Instructions: |
- Log in using your UMD Directory ID. If you are registered for the course,
you will see the course Web space after login. - Homework will be delivered online through this Web site, and your scores will be posted there. - Course announcements will be posted on this Web site, so you should check it regularly. |
| Outside link: | http://elms.umd.edu/bbcswebdav/courses/200801_PHYS603_yakovenk/ |
| Course Information | |
| Course title: | Methods of Statistical Physics |
| Course number: | PHYS 603, 3 credits |
| Course discipline: | Physics |
| Course description: | Foundations and applications of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Advanced special students require department authorization. Also offered as CHPH718F. |
| Course date: | Monday, January 28, 2008 through Tuesday, May 13, 2008 |
| Location: | Room 1402, Physics Building |
| Meeting day and time: | Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 - 10:45 am |
| Prerequisite(s): | Prerequisites: PHYS 414 or equivalent. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: PHYS 602 or PHYS 603. |
| Instructor | |
| Name: | Victor M. Yakovenko, Professor of Physics |
| E-mail: | yakovenk@physics.umd.edu |
| Office location: | Room 2115, Physics Building |
| Office hours: | Tuesday and Thursday 10:45 - 11:45 am |
| Phone: | 301-405-6151 |
| Web page: | http://www2.physics.umd.edu/~yakovenk |
| No Teaching Assistant | |
| Name: | Homework and exams will be graded by Prof. Yakovenko |
| E-mail: | |
| Office location: | |
| Office hours: | |
| Phone: | |
| Textbook | |
| Required reading: |
Silvio Salinas,
Introduction to
Statistical Physics, Springer, 2001, ISBN 0-387-95119-9, Hardcover, 377 pages |
| Recommended reading: |
A.M. Guenault,
Statistical
Physics, Springer, 2nd revised and enlarged edition, 2007, Softcover, 204 pages ISBN 978-1-4020-5974-2 |
| Recommended reading: |
James P. Sethna,
Statistical Mechanics: Entropy, Order Parameters and Complexity, Oxford University Press, 2006, ISBN 978-0-1985-6677-9, Softcover, 376 pages |
| Course Goals | |
| Course goals: | To learn the foundations and application of statistical physics and thermodynamics. Some problems from the past qualifier exams will be assigned as a practice for qualifiers. |
| Homework and Exams | |
| Homework: | Homework assignments will be posted on ELMS online after we finish each chapter and will be due in one week. The homework should be submitted in class on paper for grading. The homework scores will be kept on ELMS online. |
| Exams: | There will be Midterm Exam on Tuesday, March 11 in class and the Final exam on Friday, May 16 at 8-10 am. The Final Exam will mostly consist of some past qualifier problems. Both exams are "open book": You may use any materials, such textbooks and notes. |
| Grades | |
| Grades: | The final grade will be based on your scores in exams (50%) and homework (50%). Your score within each category will be divided by the maximal possible score and added toward the overall score with the weights specified above. |
| Code of Academic Integrity | |
| Student Honor Council: | The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html. |