This course introduces students to the fundamental methods of statistical physics and their applications in classical and quantum systems. Students will learn how macroscopic properties emerge from the microscopic behavior of large ensembles of particles. The course covers key concepts such as distinguishable and indistinguishable particles, microstates, macrostates, entropy, and the foundational principles of Gibbs ensembles.
Throughout the semester, students will study the microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles, exploring their thermodynamic implications and applications to ideal gases, interacting systems, and quantum particles. The course also introduces classical and quantum distributions, including Boltzmann, Maxwell, Fermi–Dirac, and Bose–Einstein statistics.
In the final part of the course, students apply these concepts to real physical systems such as photons, semiconductors, Bose–Einstein condensates, and the Ising model.
Assessment is based on continuous evaluation (33%) and a final exam (67%).
- Teacher: Djamel eddine ZENKHRI