California Institute of Technology

Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy

Physics 12c - Introduction to Statistical Mechanics, Spring 2008.

Physics 12c is a 10-week introduction to statistical mechanics for students planning to major in physics, astronomy, or related fields.

Announcements:

• Solutions to Problem Sets 5, 6, 7, 8 posted.
• FINAL EXAM posted.
• There will be a FINAL REVIEW at 2:00 pm on June 7 (Sat) in Lauritsen 269
• Week 10 Lecture notes posted.
• MIDTERM solutions posted.

Instructor: Prof. Hirosi Ooguri

Office: 444 Lauritsen
E-mail: ooguri AT theory.caltech.edu
(A message sent to ooguri at caltech.edu may not get an immediate response.)
'Official' office hours are 4:00 - 5:00 on Tuesdays. You can also try to catch me whenever you like, or make an appointment if you prefer. Questions that are specific to homework solutions should be discussed with the TA's first.

Prerequisites:

Math 1abc or equivalent (differential equations, complex numbers, ...)
Physics 1abc, or equivalent (mechanics, special relativity, electromagnetism)
Physics 2a or Physics 12a: Waves! Physics 12b: Quantum mechanics!

Lectures:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30-11:55, 269 Lauritsen.
Any changes will be announced well in advance.

Textbook for Phys 12c:

Required: C. Kittel and H. Kroemer Thermal Physics, 2nd ed;
Recommended: .....

Class notes:

I will try to post my (hand-written) lecture notes by the end of each week.

Lecture Notes (Week 1) (pdf)

Lecture Notes (Week 2) (pdf)

Lecture Notes (Week 3) (pdf)

Lecture Notes (Week 4) (pdf)

Lecture Notes (Week 5) (pdf)

Lecture Notes (Week 7) (pdf)

Lecture Notes (Week 8) (pdf)

Lecture Notes (Week 9) (pdf)

Lecture Notes (Week 10) (pdf)

Recitations:

Wednesday, 3-4 PM, Location: 103 DWN
Prabha Mandayam: prabhamd AT its.caltech.edu; Office hours: Monday, 2:00-3:00pm, 449 LAU
Wednesday, 8-9 PM, Location: 269 LAU
Heywood Tam: tam AT caltech.edu; Office hours: Wednesday, 2:00-3:00pm, 335 LAU

Graders:

Miguel Bandres, bandres AT caltech.edu:
Nate Bode, nbode AT caltech.edu:
Extensions may be granted on an individual basis by prior agreement with the grader. If you need an extension, you should contact Heywood at least one day before the deadline. It is unlikely that a repeated request is granted.

Problem Sets:

Problem sets will be normally handed out on Thursday and be due 5:00 pm on the following Thursday. There will be a lock-box for Physics 12 to collect homework sheets outside 269 Lauritsen.

Assignment 1 (pdf)

Assignment 1 Solutions (pdf)

Assignment 2 (pdf)

Assignment 2 Solutions (pdf)

Assignment 3 (pdf)

Assignment 3 Solutions (pdf)

Assignment 4 (pdf)

Assignment 4 Solutions (pdf)

Assignment 5 (pdf)

Assignment 5 Solutions (pdf)

Assignment 6 (pdf)

Assignment 6 Solutions (pdf)

Assignment 7 (pdf)

Assignment 7 Solutions (pdf)

Assignment 8 (pdf)

Assignment 8 Solutions (pdf)

Exams:

Final

Midterm

Midterm Solutions

Honor Code:

Work is governed by the honor system. You may not use sources that contain the answer to a problem or to a very similar problem. Discussion with others is encouraged, but the work you hand in must be your own. In particular, do not use solution sets from previous years, or problem/solution books!