Syllabus for ESM511 - Thermodynamics of Solids

This course introduces the student to the relationship between classical and statistical thermodynamics in describing the behavior of condensed phases such as solids and liquids. Classical concepts of thermodynamics are reviewed and the roles of entropy, free energy and chemical potential are introduced to describe and predict the equilibrium properties and phase stability of single and multicomponent systems. Statistical concepts are introduced and the relationship of macroscopic and microscopic properties of a system are shown to be connected by the introduction of the canonical ensemble, and the partition function. The connection between the classical state functions and the partition functions are established and statistical calculations are made of the properties of simple solids, liquids, one-component systems multicomponent systems, phase equilibrium and chemical equilibrium using models such as the quasi-chemical and the Bragg-Williams approximation. Comparisons with experimental measurements are shown to illustrate the power of statistical thermodynamics to predict the macroscopic thermodynamic behavior of solids and liquids.

Instructor: Prof. A. Tobin

Requirements: Introductory courses on classical thermodynamics and quantum theory. Basic courses on calculus.

Text: Thermodynamics of Materials -J. Hudson

JQ 07/30/01