Statistical Mechanics (Maths C6.2a) is a brand new Part C course in the Mathematical Institute.
Lectures are held Th, F: 11:00 am - noon, L1, MI.
There will be two classes. I will be the tutor for both of them, and Puck Rombach will be the TA.
Classes will be held on Fridays at 2 - 3 pm and 3 - 4pm starting in week 2. In weeks 2 and 4-8, they will be held in New Higman Room (SGSR). In week 3, they will be held in SGSR1.
[SGSR1 is in the basement of the MI. The New Higman Room is the meeting room that can be divided off at the end of the Common Room.]
Problem sheets will be due by 4pm on Wednesday in weeks 2-8. There will be seven sheets (one for each class). As usual, a box will magically appear in the basement of the MI.
I haven't yet made the problem sheets. Some of them should starting appearing among the course resources soon.
Note that I will be out of town on Nov. 24-25, so somebody else will cover my lecture that day.
One of my favorite quotes ever from the opening of a book: Ludwig Boltzman, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand. Paul Ehrenfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933. Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics. Perhaps it will be wise to approach the subject cautiously. (David Goodstein, in the opening lines of States of Matter)
