MT 2012 Edition

Lectures are held Th, F: 11:00 am - noon, L2, MI.

There are two classes. I will be the tutor for both of them, and Mark Wilkinson will be the TA.

The classes will be held at the following times: Fridays at 2 - 3 pm and 3 - 4pm starting in week 2. They will occur in SG SR1.

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.

Note: I am using the same scribbled lecture notes (see scanned versions on the Course Materials website) as last year, except possibly for the "special topic" to be covered in the last lecture or two (which isn't in the scanned notes anyway). I like to have student input in determining such special topics, so I'll figure that out later.

I have now posted all 7 problem sheets.

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)

Part III of Lecture Notes Posted

I have now posted p. 40a-48a of the lecture notes. This takes us through the end of Chapter 12 of Sethna's book and should basically get us to the end of lecture 14.

The two lectures in week 8 will be on a 'special topic' to be determined. If there are any particular topics that interest you, please let me know. It is my intention for the last couple of lectures to vary from year to year depending on student interest.