Statistical Physics

Computational physics plays a central role in all fields of physics, from classical statistical physics, soft matter problems, and hard-condensed matter. Our goal is to cover the very basic concepts underlying computer simulations in classical and quantum problems, and connect these ideas to relevant contemporary research problems in various fields of physics. In the TD’s you will also learn how to set, perform and analyse simple computer simulations by yourself. We will use Python, but no previous knowledge of this programming language is needed.

This course covers advanced topics in Statistical Physics. It assumes a very good knowledge of the Statistical Physics concepts and methods taught in standard lectures at the M1 level.

The first aim of these lectures will be to give a brief overview of the physical and dynamical mechanisms which determine Earth’s climate. We will start with the atmospheric radiative transfer and the energy fluxes provided by the fluid dynamics of the atmosphere and the oceans.

Phase transitions take place in many different branches of physics: from soft and hard condensed matter to cosmology and high-energy physics. This course presents the fundamental ideas, concepts and methods that underpin the modern theory of phase transitions.