Syllabus for |
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| MCC011 - Non-equilibrium processes in physics, chemistry and biology |
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| Syllabus adopted 2013-02-20 by Head of Programme (or corresponding) |
| Owner: MPNAT |
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7,5 Credits |
| Grading: TH - Five, Four, Three, Not passed |
| Education cycle: Second-cycle |
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Major subject: Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Engineering Physics |
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Department: 59 - MICROTECHNOLOGY AND NANOSCIENCE
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Teaching language: English
Open for exchange students
Block schedule:
D
| Course module |
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Credit distribution |
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Examination dates |
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Sp1 |
Sp2 |
Sp3 |
Sp4 |
Summer course |
No Sp |
| 0111 |
Examination |
7,5c |
Grading: TH |
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7,5c
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27 May 2014 pm M, |
14 Jan 2014 am M, |
25 Aug 2014 am M |
In programs
MPNAT NANOTECHNOLOGY, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (compulsory elective)
Examiner:
Docent
Tomas Löfwander
Professor
Vitaly Shumeiko
Replaces
MCC010
Statistical physics II TIF105
Stochastic processes in physics, chemistry and biology
Eligibility:
For single subject courses within Chalmers programmes the same eligibility requirements apply, as to the programme(s) that the course is part of.
Course specific prerequisites
Mathematical analysis and Algebra. Introductory level Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, Classical and Quantum Mechanics
Aim
The great majority of physical, chemical, and biological processes occur
outside the thermodynamic equilibrium. How do we describe many-particle
system driven away from equilibrium, or evolving towards the equilibrium
due to an interaction with an environment? In contrast to the universality
of the thermodynamics, the non-equilibrium evolution is system specific
and requires individual approach. The purpose of the course is to
introduce basic concepts of kinetic theory and stochastic processes, and to
study practical tools to investigate non-equilibrium states. We will discuss the origin of irreversible evolution and dissipation,
hierarchy of relaxation processes, transport phenomena and noise, Brownian motion. The course includes a
selection of applications to quantum solid state systems, chemical reaction kinetics, and soft matter like colloidal dispersions,
polymers, gels, glasses and biological systems.
Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)
In this course the student should acquire a general knowledge of stochastic processes and their use to describe the time evolution of systems in nature; the student will learn basic concepts and practical methods of the kinetic theory for classical and quantum many body systems. The following topics are covered: Statistical description of a dissipative macroscopic system and origin of irreversible evolution. Stochastic processes and basic distributions. Boltzmann equation and transport theory. Langevin theory of classical and quantum Brownian motion. Fluctuation and noise. Applications to physical, chemical and biological systems.
Content
The first half of the course deals with general concepts of non-equilibrium statistical physics and methods to describe dissipative and transport processes in many-body systems. Starting with a simple example of a random walk the basic concepts in probability theory and stochastic processes are introduced. More complex systems are studied via the Boltzmann equation and by considering Markov processes. The latter introduces the study of Master-, Fokker-Planck- and Langevin equations.
The student can choose two different directions for the second part of the course:
1. Quantum non-equilibrium systems
Here we consider applications in modern solid state physics, quantum electronics and optics. We study methods to describe the state and evolution of quantum non-equilibrium systems, linear response theory, problem of quantum noise, relation between fluctuations and dissipation, behavior of quantum particle in an environment.
2. Transport in soft matter and biological systems
Study of transport processes in various complex systems like polymers, colloids, soft matter. Description of chemical reactions and Brownian motors. Applications to systems in physics, chemistry and biology.
Organisation
The course is based on a series of lectures and exercises. The second half of the course can be organized as a project work.
Literature
The course will be based on lecture notes. Suggested reading material will be specified on the course homepage
Examination
Home assignments and written examination.