This book provides the most comprehensive presentation of the basics of statistical physics. The book also features applications to quantum dynamics, thermodynamics, Ising model and statistical dynamics of free spins. The first part of the book explains the essence of statistical physics. It does this without going into details such as Liouville's theorem or ergodic theorem, which are difficult for beginners and unnecessary for actual application of the statistical mechanics. In the second part, statistical mechanics ís applied to various systems which look different but have the same mathematical structure. In this way readers can deepen their understanding of statistical physics.

Klappentext

This book provides a comprehensive presentation of the basics of statistical physics. The first part explains the essence of statistical physics and how it provides a bridge between microscopic and macroscopic phenomena, allowing one to derive quantities such as entropy. Here the author avoids going into details such as Liouville's theorem or the ergodic theorem, which are difficult for beginners and unnecessary for the actual application of the statistical mechanics. In the second part, statistical mechanics is applied to various systems which, although they look different, share the same mathematical structure. In this way readers can deepen their understanding of statistical physics. The book also features applications to quantum dynamics, thermodynamics, the Ising model and the statistical dynamics of free spins.

Inhalt

General Principles.- Thermal Equilibrium and the Principle of Equal Probability.- Entropy.- The Partition Function and the Free Energy.- Elementary Applications.- Ideal Gases.- The Heat Capacity of a Solid, and Black-Body Radiation.- The Elasticity of Rubber.- Magnetic Materials.- More Advanced Topics.- First-Order Phase Transitions.- Second-Order Phase Transitions.- Dense Gases - Ideal Gases at Low Temperature.