The aim of this course is to investigate the macroscopic physical properties of systems consisting of many particles using their microscopic properties via statistical methods. The course covers statistical ensembles (microcanonical and canonical ensembles), partition functions, the statistical basis of entropy, statistical mechanics of ideal gases, specific heat of solids (Einstein and Debye models), paramagnetism, the equipartition theorem, and the Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution.

Starting with the principles of thermodynamics and the thermodynamics of the ideal gas, the course introduces macroscopic and microscopic states, phase space, and statistical ensembles. The fundamental postulate of statistical mechanics and the microcanonical ensemble are discussed; the ideal monatomic gas, Einstein specific heat model, and paramagnetism are studied within this ensemble. After introducing the canonical ensemble and the partition function, paramagnetism in the canonical ensemble and the Debye specific heat model are covered. The course continues with the equipartition theorem and the Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution, and concludes with the calculation of the statistical mechanical properties of monatomic and diatomic ideal gases.