Synopses & Reviews
Recent developments have led to a good understanding of universality: why phase transitions in systems as diverse as magnets, fluids, liquid crystals, and superconductors can be brought under the same theoretical umbrella and accurately described by simple models. This book describes the physics underlying universality and then lays out the theoretical approaches now available for studying phase transitions. Traditional techniques, mean-field theory, series expansions, and the transfer matrix, are described; the Monte Carlo method is covered; and two chapters are devoted to the renormalization group which led to a breakthrough in the field. The book will be useful as a textbook for a course in phase transitions, as an introduction for graduate students undertaking research in related fields, and as an overview for scientists in other disciplines who work with phase transitions but who are not aware of the current tools of theoretical physics.
Review:
"Readers of Dr. Yeomans' book will be succinctly introduced to these 'mysteries' and more in less than 150 pages of text. They will be introduced to the main lines of research activity and the important papers in each. . . . novices will be provided with an up-to-date map of the field." --Contemporary Physics
"Provides a brief, accessible introduction to phase transitions, critical phenomena and the renormalization group. I was well pleased with the clarity and coherence of the exposition. . . . this book will prove useful to the beginning graduate or advanced undergraduate student who wants to start learning about phase transitions and critical phenomena, and to the instructor who would like to teach the subject to such a student." --Physics Today
Synopsis:
An introduction to the physics which underlie universality and the theoretical techniques currently at our disposal for understanding them, laying out the theoretical approaches available for studying phase transitions.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
3. Models
4. Mean-Field Theories
5. The Transfer Matrix
6. Series Expansions
7. Monte Carlo Simulations
8. The Renormalization Group
9. Implementations of the Renormalization Group
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