Seminar on Foundations of Statistical Mechanics

Winter semester 2022

Description: While statistical mechanics is widely used in physics, experts are still debating its foundations, about issues such as, what is the justification for the use of ensembles? Which of the varying definitions of entropy and thermal equilibrium are the most fundamental? This seminar will focus on foundational questions of statistical mechanics. We will mainly focus on quantum statistical mechanics (as opposed to classical statistical mechanics). This seminar fits well after the lecture "Mathematical Statistical Physics" in the past summer semester but does not require it.
Key themes: concepts of entropy and thermal equilibrium, random matrices, eigenstate thermalization hypothesis, typicality theorems.
Prerequisites: Analysis 1 and 2, linear algebra, quantum mechanics (QM). Recommended: courses in probability theory and/or statistical physics.
Studiengänge: B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Sc., M.Ed. in math or physics or mathematical physics.
ECTS: 3 credits.
Language of presentation: English
On campus or online? On campus only, unless the covid situation changes dramatically for the worse.
Talks: 90 minutes, one talk per week

List of talks:

Date	Speaker	Title
25.10.2022	C. Rubiliani	Random matrices and their use in statistical mechanics
01.11.2022	public holiday	university closed
08.11.2022	J. Garrels	Approach to macroscopic thermal equilibrium
15.11.2022	M. Wesle	The thermodynamic limit in quantum mechanics
22.11.2022	B. Poudyal	Normal typicality
29.11.2022	C. Igelspacher	Definitions of entropy
06.12.2022	S. Höfer	Canonical typicality
13.12.2022	no talk
20.12.2022	S. Roy	Approach to microscopic thermal equilibrium
10.01.2023	no talk
17.01.2023	T. Grickscheit	The GAP measure
24.01.2023	A. Jozani	Smoothness of GAP-typical wave functions