Statistical Thermodynamics: Molecules to Machines

Description

The goal of modern engineering research is to create new materials and processes at the molecular level. Statistical thermodynamics provides a formalism for understanding how molecular interactions lead to observed macroscale collective behaviour. This course will teach you how to calculate key thermodynamic quantities like heat, work, free energy, and entropy at the molecular level. These ideas will be used to better understand a variety of important engineering and biological applications.

Syllabus :

1. Classical Thermodynamics

• Classical Mechanics
• Quantum Mechanics
• Classical Thermodynamics
• Phase Equilibrium

 

2. Introduction to Statistics and Statistical Thermodynamics

• Statistics
• Statistical Thermodynamics

 

3. Non-interacting systems

• Non-Interacting Systems: Two-level System
• Non-Interacting Systems: Ideal Gas
• Non-Interacting Systems: Electrons
• Non-Interacting Systems: Phonons
• Non-Interacting Systems: Photons

 

4. Theory: Interacting systems

• Module 5.1: Ising Model: Introduction
• Module 5.2: Ising Model: Mean-field Approximation
• Module 5.3: Ising Model: Fluctuations

 

5. Applications: Water, Polymer and Photosynthesis

• Water: Two-phase model
• Water: Unique properties
• Polymers

 

6. Applications: Photosynthesis, Liquids

• Photosynthesis
• Classical Liquids
• Classical Liquids: Measurement

 

7. Application: Adsorption, Electrolytes

• Adsorption: Non-interacting adsorbates
• Adsorption: Interacting adsorbates
• Electrolytes

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