The Logic of Thermostatistical Physics

This book deals with models and model-building in classical and quantum physics; it relies on logic and the philosophy of science as well as on modern mathematics. The reader will also find vistas into the history of ideas. The philosophical analysis is based on the separation of syntax and semantics which is at the root of Kolmogorov's theory of probability; recursive functions and algorithmic complexity are used to discuss entropy and randomness. Basic concepts are discussed together with concrete physical models for phase transitions, scaling, renormalization semigroups, and the irreversible approach to equilibrium. The book is intended for mathematicians, physicists and philosophers of science, both researchers and graduate students.

Klappentext

This book is devoted to a thorough analysis of the role that models play in the practise of physical theory. The authors, a mathematical physicist and a philosopher of science, appeal to the logicians' notion of model theory as well as to the concepts of physicists.

Inhalt

1. Theories and Models: a Philosophical Overview.- 2. Thermostatics.- 3. Kinetic Theory of Gases.- 4. Classical Probability.- 5. Modern Probability: Syntax and Models.- 6. Modern Probability: Competing Semantics.- 7. Setting-up the Ergodic Problem.- 8. Models and Ergodic Hierarchy.- 9. Ergodicity vs. Integrability.- 10. The Gibbs Canonical Ensembles.- 11. Phase Transitions: van der Waals to Lenz.- 12. Ising and Related Models.- 13. Scaling and Renormalization.- 14. Quantum Models for Phase Transitions.- 15. Approach to Equilibrium in Quantum Mechanics.- 16. The Philosophical Horizon.- A. Appendix: Models in Mathematical Logic.- A.1 Syntax.- A.2 Semantics.- B. Appendix: The Calculus of Differentials.- B.1 Green's Theorem.- B.2 Stokes' and Gauss' Theorems.- B.3 Higher Differentials.- C. Appendix: Recursive Functions.- D. Appendix: Topological Essences.- D.1 Basic Definitions.- D.2 Examples from Functional Analysis.- D.3 Separability and Compactness.- D.4 The Baire Essentials.- E. Appendix: Models vs. Models.- E.1 Models in Wigner's Writings and in the Third Wigner Symposium.- E.2 A Search for Precedents.- E.3 The Case.- E.4 Closing Statements.- References.- Citation Index.