Spring
4
The study of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics from the unifying viewpoint of quantum theory. Topics include: Gibbs and Boltzmann factors; Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distribution functions; temperature, pressure, and the monatomic ideal gas; thermodynamic potentials. Application of theory to metals, white dwarf stars, photons, and phonons will be considered. (Course offered Spring semester of odd numbered years.)