Syllabus

From phys813
Jump to navigationJump to search

Spring 2024

Instructor

Calendar

  • TuTh: 9:35AM-10:55AM in Allison Hall 134.
  • Office hours: TuTh 11:00AM-11:45AM in 234 Sharp Lab, or by appointment (send me an email).
  • Classes start on Tuesday, February 5 and terminate on Thursday, May 16.
  • Exams:
    • Midterm: 04/23, 9:30AM-10:45AM in Allison Hall 134.
    • Final: 05/21, 8:00AM-10:00PM in Sharp Lab 122.
  • Breaks:
    • Spring break: March 23-March 31.
    • Instructor's travel schedule: March 5,7.

Requirements

Lectures: The goal of class time is to emphasize important concepts covered in the textbook, introduce topics not in the text, and highlight common conceptual and problem-solving pitfalls. It is my responsibility to present this material for your coherently and create an environment in which you will feel comfortable participating. It is your responsibility to take me up on my offer to participate and to prepare yourself for the class by reading the material and working sample problems. Attendance for all lectures and discussions is strongly recommended.

Quizzes: Short (formal for the whole class and informal for first person to answer) quizzes will be given in the middle or at the end of the class to test student class participation.

Homeworks: Homework will be assigned on Tuesdays and it is due by next Tuesday (can be handed in the class or emailed as PDF).

Exams: A midterm and a final exam.

Academic Honesty: The policy on academic honesty as stated in the Student Guide to University Policies will be followed during this course. In particular: collaboration on homework assignments and in-class activities is permitted and encouraged (unless your instructor explicitly indicates otherwise).

Grading

  • The final score will be determined as a weighted average of different class activities listed above using the following formula:
    • Homework - 40%,
    • Quiz - 10 %,
    • Midterm and final exam - 50%.
  • Here is a guideline for your final letter grade, as a percentage of the total number of points:
    • 93 - 100 -> A
    • 90 - 92 -> A-
    • 85 - 89 -> B+
    • 80 - 84 -> B
    • 75 - 79 -> B-
    • 70 - 74 -> C+
    • 65 - 69 -> C
    • 60 - 64 -> C-
    • 57 - 59 -> D+
    • 53 - 56 -> D
    • 50 - 52 -> D-
    • < 50 -> F

These numbers may be lowered, depending upon numerous factors, but will not be raised (i.e., if you have 90 average you are assured of at least an A-). The course grades are not curved.

  • Grading of overdue homework: Homeworks submitted after the deadline will incur a penalty 5 points for each 24 hour period. After eight days, the maximum possible grade is set at 60 points.

Study Guides

  • Main textbooks:
    • W. Greiner, L. Neise, and H. Stöcker, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Springer, Berlin, 1995). NOTE: The textbook covers first half (roughly until the Spring Break) of the course focused on density matrix, quantum partition function, and noninteracting bosons and fermions in equilibrium.
    • H. Nishimori and Gerardo Ortiz, Elements of phase transitions and critical phenomena (OUP, Oxford, 2010). NOTE: The textbook covers third quarter of the course focused on phase transitions, critical phenomena, and renormalization group.
    • R. Soto, Kinetic Theory and Transport Phenomena, (OUP, Oxford, 2010). NOTE: The textbook covers forth quarter of the course focused on classical and semi-classical transport phenomena.
  • Supplementary textbooks:
    • H. Gould and J. Tobochnik, Statistical and thermal physics: With computer applications (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2010). Available online at STP Project. NOTE: Excellent introductory (undergraduate level) textbook covering thermodynamics, classical and quantum statistical mechanics, and includes gentle introduction to phase transitions and renormalization group.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.physics.udel.edu/wiki_phys813/index.php?title=Syllabus&oldid=1666"