Course Schedule and Catalog
Course Schedule - Fall Semester 2026
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
MECH 584 001 (CRN: 15099)
MICRO THERMO & TRANSPORT
Long Title: MICROSCOPIC THERMODYNAMICS AND TRANSPORT
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Instructor: Wehmeyer, Geoff
Meeting: 2:30PM - 3:45PM TR (24-AUG-2026 - 4-DEC-2026)
Part of Term: Full Term
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Lecture
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Method of Instruction: Face to Face
Credit Hours: 3
Course Syllabus:
Course Materials: Rice Campus Store
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Graduate
Section Max Enrollment: 0 (permission required)
Section Enrolled: 0
Total Cross-list Max Enrollment: 45
Total Cross-list Enrolled: 0
Waitlisted: 2 (Max 198)
Current members of the waitlist have priority for available seats.
Enrollment data as of: 26-APR-2026 11:57AM
Final Exam: No Final Exam
Description: This course introduces concepts in statistical mechanics and non-equilibrium thermodynamics that are used to understand the physical mechanisms of heat transfer, particularly in micro/nanoscale systems. Emphasis is placed on energy storage and thermal transport by electrons, phonons, molecules, and photons. Topics include the kinetic theory of gases, thermodynamic distribution functions, energy carrier dispersion relations, Boltzmann equation modeling of thermal and electrical properties, size effects (classical and quantum-mechanical) on material properties, and thermoelectric energy conversion. Cross-list: MECH 484.