PHYS5510 Topics in Theoretical Physics (Advanced Statistical Mechanics)
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PHYS5510 Topics in Theoretical Physics (Advanced Statistical Mechanics)

Information about final exam has been sent to all enrolled students by email. If you have not received the email, please contact the lecturer.

Consultation hours on 8 May, Friday 2:30-4:00 pm:

https://cuhk.zoom.us/meeting/register/v5Mtf-6vrTksBbVn4T8oCsiw0JxOumY_8Q

This course provides an introduction to the major ideas and methods in equilibrium statistical mechanics as well as in nonequilibrium statistical physics. Topics will be selected from: the statistical mechanics of magnetic systems, interacting fluids and soft matters, theory of critical phenomena and the renormalization group, stochastic dynamics and nonequilibrium processes, introduction to quantum statistical mechanics, and other topics of current interest in statistical physics. Prerequisite: PHYS4031 or its equivalent or permission of the instructor.


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Lecturer

Prof. Renbao LIU
Office: Science Centre North 205
Tel. 3943 6312

Language: English/Madrian
E-mail: rbliu(at)cuhk.edu.hk


Teaching Assistant

Mr. FANG Tianyao
Office: Science Center (North Block) 313 (27T)
Tel: 59369396

Language: Mandarian/English
E-mail: fty0724@mail.ustc.edu.cn
Office hours: T8-9


Time and Venue

LECT: Mon 09:30 - 11:15 (ERB 401), Wed 09:30 - 10:15 (SC L5)

TUTO: Wed 10:30 - 11:15 (SC L5)

Colloquium: Fri 15:30 - 18:15 (SC L2, you are encouraged to attend the colloquia)

Office hours: Fri 13:30 - 15:30 (or by appointment)

CLASS CANCELLATION: Classes on 8 Jan (Wed) is canceled.

CLASS MAKE-UP: 18 Jan (Sat) 10:30-12:15, Venue: SC L5

MIDTERM EXAM: 21 Mar (Sat) 9:30-12:30, Venue: TBD

FINAL EXAM: 11 May (Mon) 9:30-12:30, Venue: TBD


Reference Books

  • M. Plischke and B. Bergersen, Equilibrium Statistcal Physics, 2nd ed. (World Scientific, 1994).
  • R. K. Pathria, Statistical Mechanics, 2nd Ed. (Elsevier, 2001).
  • L. E. Reichl, A Modern Course in Statistical Physics (1998).
  • S. K. Ma, Modern Theory of Critical Phenomena (Benjamin/Cummings, 1976).
  • 李政道，统计物理 (上海科技出版社 2006).
  • S. Sachdev, Quantum Phase Transitions (Cambridge, 1999).

    • Assessment Scheme

    Homework 20%
    Mid-term Exam 30%
    Final Exam 50%

    Academic honesty and ethic

    Students should be aware of the University policy on academic honesty; please see

    http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/index.htm

    In particular, collaborations with others should be explicitly acknowledged with own efforts specified, and use of materials from existing sources including but not limited to textbooks, monographs, journal papers, and websites should be clearly referenced. Failure to obey such regulations will be considered for plagiarism and cheating, which lead to severe disciplinary action up to termination of studies at the University.

    Course Outline

  • 1. Review of basic principles of statistical physics
  • 2. Quantum statistics, (reduced) density matrix, entanglement
  • 3. Non-ideal gas, cluster expansion of dilute interacting gases (classical systems)
  • 4. Mean-field theory, phase transition
  • 5. Symmetry breaking, order parameter
  • 6. Fluctuation, correlation, critical phenomena
  • 7. Renormalization group method
  • 8. Topological phase transitions
  • 9. Linear response theory (optional)
  • 10. Introduction to quantum phase transition (optional)