PHYS 4488

PHYS 4488

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2024-2025.

This course focuses on those topics in statistical mechanics of interest to scholars in many fields. Topics include random walks and emergent properties; temperature and equilibrium; phase space dynamics and ergodicity; entropy; free energies; quantum statistical mechanics; calculation and computation; order parameters, broken symmetries, and topology; correlations, response, and dissipation; abrupt phase transitions; and continuous phase transitions, fractals, and the renormalization group. Taught in conjunction with the graduate course PHYS 6562, this version is advised for undergraduates and interested graduates outside of Physics.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: some sophistication with calculus and introductory physics.

Distribution Category (PHS-AS) (CHPH-AG, OPHLS-AG)

View Enrollment Information

Syllabi:
  •   Regular Academic Session.  Combined with: PHYS 6562

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  5130 PHYS 4488   LEC 001

    • MWF
    • Jan 21 - May 6, 2025
    • Sethna, J

  • Instruction Mode: In Person
    For Physics course enrollment help, please see: https://physics.cornell.edu/enrollment-guide.