Graduate Studies Reports Access
Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - PHY6536
Tracking Number - 5149
Edit function not enabled for this course.
Current Status:
Approved by SCNS - 2015-12-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: Change
Course Change Information (for course changes only): The catalog shows a PR of "PHY 5624," which does not exist. We wish to correct the PR to PHY 6645.
Comments: For PhD in Applied Physics, MS in Physics - Required. Form incomplete. Emailed 2/11/15. Updated 8/28/15. to GC (Correcting Pre-req Number). GC approved 10/12/15. to USF Sys 10/12/15. to SCNS 10/28/15. Appd effective 12/1/15
Detail Information
- Date & Time Submitted: 2014-12-15
- Department: Physics
- College: AS
- Budget Account Number: TPA-10000-125300-000000-0000000
- Contact Person: David Rabson
- Phone: 41207
- Email: davidra@ewald.cas.usf.edu
- Prefix: PHY
- Number: 6536
- Full Title: Statistical Mechanics
- Credit Hours: 3
- Section Type: C -
Class Lecture (Primarily)
- Is the course title variable?: N
- Is a permit required for registration?: Y
- Are the credit hours variable?: N
- Is this course repeatable?:
- If repeatable, how many times?: 0
- Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Statistical Mechanics
- Course Online?: C -
Face-to-face (0% online)
- Percentage Online: 0
- Grading Option:
R - Regular
- Prerequisites: PHY 6645
- Corequisites:
- Course Description: Kinetic theory, configuration and
phase space. Boltzmann theorem,
Liouville theorem, ensemble theory,
quantum statistics.
- Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Existing course; updating Pre-req number
- What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? Core requirement for all graduate programs in physics/applied physics; normally, students take the class in their first year
- Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times?
- What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) doctorate in physics or a related discipline
- Objectives: Discuss the statistical basis of thermodynamics; prepare students for research in a wide variety of theoretical and experimental areas, including solid-state, condensed-matter, materials, atomic, molecular, optical, and biological physics, all of which rely on statistical mechanics.
- Learning Outcomes: On completion, students will be able to read current research papers in statistical mechanics and the areas (including condensed-matter, materials, biological physics, etc.) that depend on it. They will be able to compute partition functions in the canonical and grand-canonical ensembles. They will be ready to apply statistical-mechanical techniques and ideas to their own research.
- Major Topics: ensemble theory
thermodynamics
phase space/Louiville theory/KAM
Fokker-Planck, Langevin
Brownian motion
fluctuation-dissipation theorem
phase transitions/renormalization group
- Textbooks: examples: Pathria, Statistical Mechanics (2nd ed)
Plischke and Bergersen, Equilibrium Statistical Physics (3rd ed)
Sethna, Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity
- Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases:
- Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy:
- Assignments, Exams and Tests:
- Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,
http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)
Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)
In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.
- Policy on Make-up Work:
- Program This Course Supports: Ph.D. in Applied Physics and master's programs in physics
- Course Concurrence Information:
- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.