FYS4130 – Statistical Mechanics

After completing the course, you:

• are able to compute (numerically and analytically) thermodynamic quantities and correlation functions in equilibrium for quantum mechanical and classical models in statistical mechanics using various techniques and approximations.
• have gained experience with models of gases, liquids, electrons in materials, lattice vibrations, and magnetism.
• are able to deduce and mathematically transform thermodynamic identities. You can also use thermodynamic stability criteria, and you can characterize phase transitions.
• have knowledge about terms and concepts related to the renormalization group (RG), and you can use it to deduce critical exponents.
• are able to deduce the master equation, and use it to construct various Monte Carlo algorithms.

Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

• FYS-MEK1110 – Mechanics (discontinued) or FYS1100 – Mechanics and Modelling
• FYS1120 – Electromagnetism
• FYS2130 – Oscillations and Waves
• FYS2140 – Quantum Physics
• FYS2160 – Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

The course is taught over a full semester with 6 hours of teaching per week:

• 4 hours of lectures
• 2 hours of exercises

This course has 2 mandatory assignments that must be approved before you can sit the final exam.

Regulations for mandatory activities can be found here.

• Final written exam (4 hours) which counts 100 % towards the final grade.

This course has mandatory exercises that must be approved before you can sit the final exam.

It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: FYS3130 – Statistical mechanics (discontinued)

• Rottman: "Matematisk formelsamling"
• Øgrim and Lian or Angell and Lian: Fysiske størrelser og enheter
• One A4 sheet (two pages) with handwritten notes
• Approved calculator

Information about approved calculators (in Norwegian)

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed exam at the beginning of the next semester.

New examinations are offered at the beginning of the next semester for students who do not successfully complete the exam during the previous semester.

We do not offer a re-scheduled exam for students who withdraw during the exam.