Yearbooks

BACK

Statistical physics 704


 
Module code PHY 704
Qualification Postgraduate
Faculty Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Module content

Thermodynamic behaviour of an ideal Bose gas:  Bose-Einstein functions, the virial expansion, the Riemann zeta-function, Bose-Einstein condensation.  Phonons:  the field of sound waves, inertial density of the sound field, elementary excitations in liquid helium II.  Ideal Fermi systems:  thermodynamic behaviour of an ideal Fermi gas, Fermi-Dirac functions and their relation to Bose-Einstein functions, the virial expansion, the Fermi energy, asymptotic expansions at low temperature, magnetic behaviour of an ideal Fermi gas (Pauli paramagnetism, Landau diamagnetism).  Quantised fields:  free bosonic quantum fields, interacting quantum fields, interacting Hamiltonian, interactions in terms of creation and annihilation operators, imperfect Bose gasses at low temperature, fermionic quantum fields, interacting theory, the ground state of an imperfect Fermi gas.  Phase transition in the Ising model:  mean field theory, critical exponents.
Module credits 15.00
NQF Level 08
Prerequisites No prerequisites.
Contact time 4 lectures per week
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Physics
Period of presentation Semester 1
The regulations and rules for the degrees published here are subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information.

The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and registered students of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at the University of Pretoria. On registering for a programme, the student bears the responsibility of ensuring that they familiarise themselves with the General Academic Regulations applicable to their registration, as well as the relevant faculty-specific and programme-specific regulations and information as stipulated in the relevant yearbook. Ignorance concerning these regulations will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression, or basis for an exception to any of the aforementioned regulations.

Postal Address:
University of Pretoria
Private Bag x 20
Hatfield
0028

Location:
GIBS | Groenkloof | Hatfield
Hillcrest | Mamelodi | Onderstepoort | Prinshof

Student Service Centre (for Contact students):
Contact Centre - Telephone: 012 420 3111
Contact Centre - Email: [email protected]

Get Social With Us

Download the UP Mobile App

Copyright © University of Pretoria 2025. All rights reserved.

Careers@UP | Tenders@UP | Ethics Hotline | PAIA Manual | Privacy Notices | Website Privacy Notice | Disclaimer | Terms of use

FAQ's Email Us Virtual Campus Share Cookie Preferences