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Instructor: Branton J. Campbell Office: N261 ESC, Tel: 422-5758 Office Hours: MWF Noon-1:00 PM in N309 ESC http://www.physics.byu.edu/faculty/campbell TA Hours: Tu/Th 3:00-5:00 PM in N337 ESC
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Instructor: Branton J. Campbell Office: N261 ESC, Tel: 422-5758 Office Hours: MWF Noon-1:00 PM in N309 ESC http://www.physics.byu.edu/faculty/campbell TA Hours: Tu/Th 3:00-5:00 PM in N337 ESC
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Announcements (check often):
6 Apr 2012: HW34-35 issues. If the Onsager formula doesn't fit your simulated spontaneous-magnetization data, it's probably because I left out an important piece. The $sinh(x)^{-4}$ term should be $sinh(ln(x))^{-4}$.
3 Apr 2012: The next three class periods will be conducted in N212 ESC (though we may need to overflow into N337), where you will pair up and build a computer simulation that comprises HW34-35. This is the last homework assignment of the semester and has now been posted online. The assignment is to be passed of via live demonstration rather than by paper submission. It will be graded on a pass-fail basis (to pass is to deliver the specified final product) and will be double weighted (i.e. recorded as both HW34 and HW35). While the assignment is formally due next Monday in class, you can also pass it off on this Friday if you finish by then. This assignment should be a lot of fun, possibly even enough fun to lighten the memory of a tough exam.
2 Apr 2012: HW33 issues. In P1, there were errors in the equations used to motivate the Van der Waals partition function, but no errors in the partition function itself. You can check the newly posted version if you want to correct these errors. In P2, $J>0$ leads to ferromagnetic configurations whereas $J<0$ leads to antiferromagnetic configuration.
2 Apr 2012: The course schedule has been updated.
28 Mar 2012: I have now posted all of my statistical mechanics lecture notes on the resources page. These may or may not be helpful to you in preparing for the exam.
26 Mar 2012: We met today to organize the next exam. All of the students in the class have been assigned to a group. Download HW32 and use it as your exam problem template. I only want one file (containing three problems and solutions) from each group.