Introductory statistical mechanics

✍ Scribed by Roger Bowley; Mariana Sánchez

• Publisher: OUP
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 367
• Edition: 2ed.
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

"This book explains the ideas and techniques of statistical mechanics - the theory of condensed matter - in a simple and progressive way. The text starts with the laws of thermodynamics and simple ideas of quantum mechanics. The conceptual ideas underlying the subject are explained carefully; the mathematical ideas are developed in parallel to give a coherent overall view. The text is illustrated with examples not just from solid state physics, but also from recent theories of radiation from black holes and recent data on the background radiation from the Cosmic background explorer." "In this second edition, slightly more advanced material on statistical mechanics is introduced, material which students should meet in an undergraduate course."--BOOK JACKET.  Read more... 1. The first law of thermodynamics -- 2. Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics -- 3. Probability and statistics -- 4. The ideas of statistical mechanics -- 5. The canonical ensemble -- 6. Identical particles -- 7. Maxwell distribution of molecular speeds -- 8. Planck's distribution -- 9. Systems with variable numbers of particles -- 10. Fermi and Bose particles -- 11. Phase transitions -- 12. Continuous phase transitions -- 13. Ginzburg-Landau theory -- A. Thermodynamics in a magnetic field -- B. Useful integrals -- C. The quantum treatment of a diatomic molecule -- D. Travelling waves -- E. Partial differentials and thermodynamics -- F. Van der Waals equation -- G. Answers to problems -- H. Physical constants