Duration
30h Th, 10h Pr
Number of credits
| Master in physical engineering (120 ECTS) | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course develops links between the molecular and the macroscopic properties of chemical systems by introducing and using the tools of statistical mechanics.
Chapter 1. Quantum mechanics of chemical systems and introduction to spectroscopy
Chapter 2. The basic principles of statistical mechanics. Theory of Gibbs ensembles
Chapter 3. Systems of independent particles (ideal gases): Maxwell-Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein statistics
Chapter 4. Ideal systems: applications of Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics (including transition state theory)
Chapter 5. Beyond the dilute limit: ideal degenerate fermion and boson gases
Chapter 6. Systems of interacting particles: real gases
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The course aims at making the students able to use the tools of spectroscopy and statistical mechanics to explain the behaviour of physico-chemical systems and to develop applications thereof.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basic quantum mechanics course
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course consists in lectures devoted to the theoretical developments while favouring the active participation of the students, followed by exercise classes with open-ended problems possibly requiring the use of a data handling software.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
4-hour seminars (Monday 2-6 pm) during the first semester, consisting in:
- two lectures (2x 1 1/2 h)
- one exercise class (1h)
Recommended or required readings
Powerpoint presentations will be made available.
The following textbook provides the students with complementary information:
N. M. Laurendeau, Statistical Thermodynamics. Fundamentals and Applications, Cambridge University Press (2005)
Assessment methods and criteria
Each student will be assigned a personal numerical mini-project during the semester. The report for this project will have to be handed over electronically (Bernard.Leyh@ulg.ac.be) on Monday, January 15th, 2018 at the latest.
The examination in January 2018 (half a day) will be partly written and partly oral.
The final grade will be an average of the assessment of the project (30%) and of the January examination (70%).
For the second examination period (August-September), a new numerical project will be assigned and will have to be handed over on Saturday, August 18th, 2018 at the latest. A mixed written-oral examination will be organized like in January. The weighting of the different assessments will be the same as in January.
The numerical mini-project is mandatory and considered as an integral part of the course. The student who will not deliver the report for the required deadline will not be allowed to present the oral-written exam.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
The course in taught in English.
Contacts
Bernard Leyh
Department of Chemistry, Building B6c (Office R77 and lab S48), B-4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman)
Phone: +32/(0)4/366.34.25 - E-mail : Bernard.Leyh@ulg.ac.be