Course syllabus

Course responsible and examiner: Andreas Isacsson (andreas.isacsson@chalmers.se)
Lectures: Andreas Isacsson and Janine Splettstoesser (janines@chalmers.se)
Tutorials: AdemirAleman (ademir.aleman@physics.gu.se)

Student representatives: 
Grify Dhas Arun Sarjan Mones  (grifydhas@gmail.com)    
Kirill Danilov  (kirilld@student.chalmers.se)   
Carl Eklind   ( carlekl@student.chalmers.se)    
Adrian Eriksson (adreri@student.chalmers.se)    
Filip Frostelind ( filipfr@student.chalmers.se)     

Aims and contents
Statistical physics comprises concepts and tools to study the properties of many-degree-of-freedom systems as well as the influence of the external world on systems. The latter leads for instance to stochastic fluctuations away from the averages and different forms of noise. The methods of statistical physics have a wide range of applications in various fields ranging from astrophysics, biophysics, materials science, quantum information, economy and even social sciences. The purpose of this course is to introduce some of the most commonly used concepts and tools of statistical physics and demonstrate how they find use in different application areas. In particular this course will treat topics that go beyond what is typically covered in courses at the bachelor level. This includes interacting systems, mean field theory, quantum statistics (density operators) etc.

Organization 
The course will have two lectures per week on Tuesdays 15:15-17:00 and Thursdays 13:15-15:00. In addition, there will be one tutorial per week on Thursday afternoons 15:15-17:00. 

Weekly problem sets with approximately five home problems per set will be made available on the home page on Monday each week. Solutions to the problem sets should be handed in on the first lecture the week after, e.g., problem set #2 will be made available Monday November 11 and due for hand in at the lecture on Tuesday November 19.

A tentative plan for the lectures, contents and topics to be covered is found in the complete Course PM in the files menue. As this is the first time the course is given this plan can be subject to changes. Continuous information and updates regarding the course will be posted on the home page in Canvas.

Examination
Examination and grading will be based on the scores of the problem sets and the performance on the final oral exam. Each problem set can yield a total of 21 points. The final oral exam will comprise questions on general concepts and specific questions on selected solutions to home problems.

Grading criteria:            
Students graded according to the scale: Fail, 3, 4 and 5  (U, 3, 4, 5).
Grade 3: at least 9 points on each problem set and passing the oral exam.
Grade 4: at least 13 points on each problem set and demonstrating a corresponding level of knowledge on the oral exam. 
Grade 5: at least 17points on each problem set and demonstrating a corresponding level of knowledge on the oral exam.

Students graded according the scale: Fail, Pass and Pass with distinction (U, G, VG).
Pass: at least 10 points on each problem set and passing the oral exam.
Pass with distinction: at least 15 points on each problem set and demonstrating a corresponding level of knowledge on the oral exam. 

Recommended literature     
Linda E. Reichl:   “A Modern Course in Statistical Physics”, 4^th Edition (2016).

James P. Sethna:  “Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity”, (2006/2017), Oxford University press. The printed 2006 edition is available at the campus store. A draft of the 2nd edition is freely available on the web.    

Additional resources can be used and will then be provided.