Introductory description

Any macroscopic object we meet contains a large number of particles, each of which moves according to the laws of mechanics (which can be classical or quantum). Yet we can often ignore the details of this microscopic motion and use a few average quantities such as temperature and pressure to describe and predict the behaviour of the object. Why we can do this, when we can do this and how to do it are discussed in the first half of this module.

In the second half of the module, we develop the ideas of first year electricity and magnetism into Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism. Establishing a complete theory of electromagnetism has proved to be one the greatest achievements of physics. It was the principal motivation for Einstein to develop special relativity, it has served as the model for subsequent theories of the forces of nature and it has been the basis for all of electronics (radios, telephones, computers, the lot...).

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

I. Electromagnetic Theory and Optics: Ampere's law, Faraday/Lenz's law, Gauss's law in differential form. Need for the displacement current. Statement of Maxwell's equations. Maxwell equations in vacuum and in matter. Magnetisation and polarization of materials. Relation of E and P, B and M. Solutions to Maxwell equations in vacuum. Electromagnetic waves, Poynting vector, intrinsic impedance, polarisation. Boundary conditions. Interfaces between dielectrics, separation into perpendicular and parallel components. Refractive index. Ohm's law. Interface with a metal, skin effect.
Optics: reflection and refraction. Wavefronts at plane and spherical surfaces. Lenses. Basics of optical instruments, resolution.

II. Statistical Mechanics: Systems and states: microstates. Fundamental assumptions of stat. mech. Equilibrium State. Definition of entropy for closed system in equilibrium. Maximization of entropy of a closed system in equilibrium. Fluctuations and Large Systems. Boltzmann distribution and Lagrange multipliers: Partition function, Z. Evaluation of Z for a spin-half system in a magnetic field and harmonic oscillator and system with degeneracy. Relationship of Z to thermodynamic quantities E, S and F=E-TS. Minimization of F in equilibrium for systems at fixed T and V. Microscopic basis for thermodynamics and relation to statistical mechanics. Classical Thermodynamics of Gases: Thermal equilibrium, quasistatic and reversible changes. Statistical Mechanics of Classical Gases. Thermodynamic potentials G and H. The ideal gas law, the Gibbs paradox. Grand-Canonical ensembles: system not closed (possibility of particle exchange between systems). Bose-Einstein and Fermi- Dirac distribution functions. Density of states. Chemical potential. Fermi energy. Relevance of Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein to matter. Phonons: Einstein model, Debye model and dispersive phonons, role of elastic modulus, phonon heat capacity, thermal expansion.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Write down and manipulate Maxwell's equations in integral or differential form and derive the boundary conditions at boundaries between linear isotropic materials
• Derive the plane-wave solutions to Maxwell's equations in free space, dielectrics and ohmic conductors
• Describe the interaction of light with optical materials and explain the basics of geometrical optics
• Explain the ergodic hypothesis and define thermal equilibrium for various ensembles
• Define the partition function and calculate thermodynamic averages from it (this includes the Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions)
• Discuss the structure of statistical mechanics and explain its relation to classical thermodynamics

Indicative reading list

Young and Freedman, University Physics 11th Edition
IS Grant and WR Phillips, Electromagnetism
E Hecht, Optics
Concepts in Thermal Physics by S. J. Blundell and K. M. Blundell (OUP, 2010). Further reading: Statistical mechanics: a survival guide by A. M. Glazer and J. S. Wark (OUP, 2001); Statistical Physics by A. M. Guenault (Springer, 2007).

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Knowledge of mathematics and physics. Skills in modelling, reasoning, thinking.

Transferable skills

Analytical, communication, problem-solving, self-study