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Spring 2025 – Tentative Class Schedule
(Topics may be updated for changes during the semester, assignments and tests definitely will be.)

Date 
 Subject Kennett Notes
Jan 21 
 Introduction; Thermodynamics I: Basic laws B1  
23 
 Thermodynamics II: Thermodynamic potentials B2, B3  
28 
 Thermodynamics III: Response functions B4 HW1 due
30 
 Thermodynamics IV: Important examples 1.1-1.2

 
Feb 04 
 Microstates and macrostates 1.3-1.4  
06 
 Liouville's theorem Ch. 3 HW2 due
11 
 The microcanonical ensemble Ch. 2  
13 
 The canonical ensemble I 4.1-4.2 HW3 due Friday
18 
 The canonical ensemble II 4.3, 4.7 [ Test 1 Wed 2/19]
20 
 The canonical ensemble III 4.4, 4.5  
25 
 The canonical ensemble V 4.6

 
27 
 Kinetic theory I 5.1-5.2  
Mar 04 
 Kinetic theory II 5.3 HW4 due
06 
 Grand canonical ensemble 6.1-6.3  
11 
 Spring Break    
13 
 Spring Break  

 
18 
 Quantum statistical mechanics I: Mixed states 7.1-7.2  
20 
 Quantum statistical mechanics II: Many quantum particles 7.3 HW5 due Friday
25 
 Quantum statistical mechanics III: Density of states 7.4  
27 
 Quantum monatomic ideal gas L15  [ Test 2 Wed 3/26 ]
Apr 01 
 Quantum monatomic ideal gas L15  
03 
 Fermions: T = 0, Fermi energy and temperature   HW6 due Friday
08 
 Fermions: Finite-temperature thermodynamics 8.1  
10 
 Bosons: The photon gas 8.2

 
15 
 Bosons: Cold boson gases 9.1  
17 
 Bosons: Phonons and magnons 9.2-9.3 HW7 due Friday
22 
 Phase transitions: Mean-field ferromagnetism 9.4  
24 
 Phase transitions: Ising model 10.1-10.3  
29 
   10.4-10.5  [ Test 3 Wed 4/30 ]
May 01 
 Phase transitions: Landau theory 10.6-10.7 HW8 due Friday
May 06 
 Tuesday, 12:00 – 3:00 PM, Final Exam – schedule of presentations

Phys 727:   main  |  schedule  |  lecture notes  |  syllabus  |  announcements
page by luca bombelli <bombelli at olemiss.edu>, modified 5 may 2025