Details of CH4218 (Spring 2025)
| Level: 4 | Type: Theory | Credits: 4.0 |
| Course Code | Course Name | Instructor(s) |
|---|---|---|
| CH4218 | Statistical Thermodynamics | Pradip Kumar Ghorai |
| Preamble |
|---|
| This course is designed based on fundamental concepts of statistical thermodynamics
considering simple real-world problems. In connection to simple molecular models of systems like solids, liquids and gases, the students would learn how to quantify and analyze their thermodynamic properties that are usually measured in experiments. |
| Syllabus |
|---|
| Review of Classical Thermodynamics and Deep Understanding of Thermodynamic Response
Functions Classical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanical Approaches, Towards a Probabilistic Description. Basic Concepts of Probability and Statistics, Conditional Probability and Correlation, Central Limit Theorem, Mathematical prerequisites Fundamental Concepts and Postulates of Statistical Mechanics Understanding Microstates of a System, Statistical Mechanical Ensembles and Distribution Functions Microcanonical Ensemble and Thermodynamic Connection Canonical Ensemble and Thermodynamic Connection Grand Canonical, Other Ensembles; Fluctuation Theory and Thermodynamic Responses, Thermodynamic Equivalence of Ensembles Boltzmann Statistics and Quantum Statistics: Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein Statistical Mechanics of Non-interacting Systems (Ideal gas: Monoatomic and di-atomic); Translational, Rotational, Vibrational Partition Functions in connection with spectroscopy studies Chemical Reaction Equilibrium (Measurement of equilibrium constant in terms of partition function Specific Heat of Solids (The Einstein Theory and the Debye Theory of the Heat Capacity of Crystals) Introduction to Classical Statistical Mechanics, Equipartition Principle Rate Theories of Simple Chemical Reactions |
| References |
|---|
| References
1) An Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics, Terrell L. Hill 2) Statistical Mechanics for Chemistry and Materials Science, Biman Bagchi. 3) Statistical Mechanics, D. A. McQuarrie, University Science Books, California, USA. 4) Statistical Mechanics, R. K. Pathria and Paul D. Beale, Butterworth-Heinemenn, 3rd Edition. 5) An Introduction to Thermal Physics, Daniel V. Schroeder. |
Course Credit Options
| Sl. No. | Programme | Semester No | Course Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IP | 2 | Not Allowed |
| 2 | IP | 4 | Not Allowed |
| 3 | IP | 6 | Not Allowed |
| 4 | MP | 2 | Core |
| 5 | MP | 4 | Not Allowed |
| 6 | MR | 2 | Not Allowed |
| 7 | MR | 4 | Not Allowed |
| 8 | MS | 10 | Not Allowed |
| 9 | MS | 4 | Not Allowed |
| 10 | MS | 6 | Not Allowed |
| 11 | MS | 8 | Elective |
| 12 | RS | 1 | Elective |
| 13 | RS | 2 | Elective |