Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics
Chemical Engineering 210B:
Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics.
University of California, Santa Barbara. Winter, 2005.

Instructors
  • Ed Feng, EII Room 3326, efeng at mrl dot ucsb dot edu.
  • Eric Cochran, MRL 2027B, ecochran at mrl dot ucsb dot edu.
  • Kirill Katsov, MRL 2027B, katsov at mrl dot ucsb dot edu.
Teaching Assistant
  • Won Bo Lee, EII 2213, wonbo at engineering dot ucsb dot edu.
Grading
  • approximately one homework per week.
  • Homework: 25%. Midterm: 30%. Final: 45%.
  • Take Home Final Exam:
    pick up from MRL 2027B Wednesday morning after 9:00am, March 16, 2005.
    Due 5:00pm, Thursday, March 17, 2005, same place.
Homework
  • Homework 1. pdf.
  • Homework 2. pdf.
  • Homework 3. pdf. Due January 27, 2005.
  • Homework 4. pdf. Due February 4, 2005.
  • Homework 5. pdf. Due February 15, 2005.
  • Homework 6. pdf. Due February 24, 2005.
  • Homework 7. pdf. Due March 3, 2005.
  • Homework 8. pdf. Due March 10, 2005.
Exam Solutions
  • Midterm, Problem 1. pdf.
  • Final, Problem 1. pdf.
  • Final, Problem 2. pdf.
  • Final, Problem 3. pdf.
Syllabus
  • Review of Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics
    • Canonical Ensemble
    • Grand Canonical Ensemble
  • Classical Fluids
    • Classical Limit in Statistical Mechanics
    • Distribution Functions
    • Potential of Mean Force
    • Radiation Scattering
    • Monte Carlo Simulation
  • Crystal Statistics
    • Einstein Model
    • Debye Model
  • Field Theory and Critical Phenomena
  • Polymer Statistical Mechanics
    • Coarse-graining
    • Models of single-chain statistics
    • Dilute solution excluded volume effect and thermodynamics
    • Semidilute solution, scaling theory
Recommended Textbooks
  • Chandler, "Introduction to Modern Statistical Mechanics".
  • McQuarrie, "Statistical Mechanics".
    (although his "Statistical Thermodynamics" text is sufficient)
  • J.P. Hansen and I. McDonald, "Theory of Simple Liquids".
    We didn't get to much material in here, but it's the standard reference for liquid state theory.
  • M.E.J. Newman, G.T. Barkema, "Monte Carlo Methods in Statistical Physics".
  • Hoel, Port, Stone, "Introduction to Stochastic Processes".
    Good starter text for Markov chain theory that computer simulation books usually skip.