This course introduces the student, who chooses the specialization of Materials Science and Engineering, to the fundamental subjects of Quantum Mechanics and Statistical Physics. These fields provide the necessary knowledge needed for the understanding of the basic structural and optoelectronic properties of matter, and prepares the student to successfully follow up with the more specialized materials courses in the curriculum. The first part of this course introduces the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics, while the remainder of the course is dedicated to the study of the salient features of statistical physics. Topics include: Quantum mechanics - Schroedinger’s equation and the probabilistic interpretation of the wavefunction, calculation of mean values, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, quantization of energy, infinite potential well, harmonic oscillator, tunneling effect, hydrogen atom, angular momentum, spin and Pauli’s principle, the periodic system. Statistical Physics – Classical statistical mechanics (statistical equilibrium, Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, thermal equilibrium, ideal gas), review of the thermodynamic laws, thermodynamic potentials and equilibrium, thermal properties of gases (equations of state, equipartition theory), quantum statistics (Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein, photon gas, ideal quantum gas).
