Course Overview
This graduate-level course will focus on how to model chemical and biological problems with the tools from statistical mechanics. The discussion will start from the foundations of statistical mechanics, and will move on to the applications to basic thermodynamics. In the second half of the course, the systems with interactions will be discussed with a strong emphasis on chemical and biological applications, such as bio- and nano-machines, water, and polymers.
Time and Classroom: Mon 4:30-7:30 pm, Room 409
Instructor: Jeong-Mo Choi
Textbooks
Main: Ken A. Dill and Sarina Bromberg, Molecular Driving Forces, 2nd Ed., Garland Science, 2011 (ISBN: 9780815344308)
Auxiliary: Donald A. McQuarrie, Statistical Mechanics, University Science Books, 2000 (ISBN: 9781891389153)
Prerequisite: Undergraduate-level thermodynamics (which will be briefly reviewed in the course)
Evaluation: Midterm 40%, final 40%, problem sets 20%
Class Schedule