This textbook offers an advanced undergraduate or initial graduate level introduction to topics such as kinetic theory, equilibrium statistical mechanics, and the theory of fluctuations from a modern perspective. The aim is to provide the reader with the necessary tools of probability theory and thermodynamics (especially the thermodynamic potentials) to enable subsequent study at advanced graduate level. At the same time, the book offers a bird's eye view on arguments that are often disregarded in the main curriculum courses. Further features include a focus on the interdisciplinary nature of the subject and in-depth discussion of alternative interpretations of the concept of entropy. While some familiarity with basic concepts of thermodynamics and probability theory is assumed, this does not extend beyond what is commonly obtained in basic undergraduate curriculum courses.

Autorentext

Piero Olla (born in Bolzano in 1960) received his PhD in Physics at the University of California Santa Cruz and was later a post-doc at the University of Chicago in the group of Prof. L.P. Kadanoff. Dr. Olla is a researcher at ISAC-CNR and teaches the course "Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics" at the Physics Department of the University of Cagliari. His research interests are divided almost equally among turbulence theory, low Reynolds number hydrodynamics and population dynamics.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Review of probability and statistics.- Kinetic theory.- Thermodynamics.- Introduction to equilibrium statistical mechanics.- The theory of fluctuations.