Introduction to Statistical Physics

The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to classical statistical mechanics in its traditional applications related to the thermodynamic properties of gases up to some more modern developments including phase transitions and critical phenomena.

The student at the end of the course will have acquired the following skills:
1) He/she will be able to perform elementary statistical and probabilistic operations.
2) He/she will know the relationship between Hamiltonian mechanics and thermodynamics.
3) He/she will be able to calculate the thermodynamic properties of a simple system from its Hamiltonian description.
4) He/she will know the properties of classical and quantum "ensembles" and will be able to determine to which cases to apply each ensemble.
5) He/she will have learned the different definitions of entropy.
6) He/she will know how to calculate the response of a system to an external perturbation.
7) He/she will know the properties of the Ising model in various dimensions.
8) He/she will know how to set an algorithm for the simulation of the Ising model.
9) He/she will be able to describe the properties of first and second order phase transitions.