Synopses & Reviews
Based on the author's graduate course taught over many years in several physics departments, this book takes a 'reductionist' view of statistical mechanics, while describing the main ideas and methods underlying its applications. It implicitly assumes that the physics of complex systems as observed is connected to fundamental physical laws represented at the molecular level by Newtonian mechanics or quantum mechanics. Organised into three parts, the first section describes the fundamental principles of equilibrium statistical mechanics. The next section describes applications to phases of increasing density and order: gases, liquids and solids; it also treats phase transitions. The final section deals with dynamics, including a careful account of hydrodynamic theories and linear response theory. This textbook is suitable for a one year graduate course in statistical mechanics for physicists, chemists and chemical engineers. Problems are included following each chapter, with solutions to selected problems provided.
Synopsis
This book describes the main ideas and methods that underlie the application of statistical mechanics to a wide variety of fields in science. It has a greater emphasis on the links between the basic microscopic laws of classical and quantum physics and statistical mechanics than can be found in other texts at the same level. The book is organised into three parts. The first section recounts basic lines of argument leading from microscopic description to the standard equilibrium ensembles in classical mechanics and quantum mechanics. The second section describes applications of the equilibrium ensembles to systems of progressively increasing density: ideal gases, imperfect gases (cluster expansions), liquids, and solids, and finally phase transitions and the renormalization group for the study of critical points. The final section deals with dynamics, including a careful account of the meaning of hydrodynamic theories in microscopic terms and linear response theory.
Synopsis
'Graduate text on statistical mechanics for physicists, chemists and materials scientists.'
Synopsis
Describing the main ideas and methods that underlie the application of statistical mechanics to a wide variety of fields in science, this book emphasizes the links between the basic microscopic laws of classical and quantum physics and statistical mechanics. Its original approach will be of value to graduate students in physics, chemistry, and materials science with an interest in the principles and techniques of statistical mechanics.
Synopsis
Taking a 'reductionist' view of statistical mechanics, this book implicitly assumes that the physics of complex systems as observed is connected to fundamental laws represented at the molecular level by Newtonian or quantum mechanics. Written for one year graduate course in statistical mechanics for physicists and chemists, problems are included.
Synopsis
Based on the author's graduate course taught over many years, this book takes a 'reductionist' view of statistical mechanics. It implicitly assumes that the physics of complex systems as observed is connected to fundamental physical laws represented at the molecular level by Newtonian mechanics or quantum mechanics. After describing the fundamental principles of equilibrium statistical mechanics, the author describes applications to the different phases, before dealing with dynamics. Written for a one year graduate course in statistical mechanics for physicists, chemists and chemical engineers, problems are included following each chapter.
About the Author
'J. Woods Halley is Professor of Physics at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.'