Statistical Physics (ePub)

This invaluable textbook is an introduction to statistical physics that has been written primarily for self-study. It provides a comprehensive approach to the main ideas of statistical physics at the level of an introductory course, starting from the kinetic theory of gases and proceeding all the way to Bose–Einstein and Fermi–Dirac statistics. Each idea is brought out with ample motivation and clear, step-by-step, deductive exposition. The key points and methods are presented and discussed on the basis of concrete representative systems, such as the paramagnet, Einstein's solid, the diatomic gas, black body radiation, electric conductivity in metals and superfluidity.The book is written in a stimulating style and is accompanied by a large number of exercises appropriately placed within the text and by self-assessment problems at the end of each chapter. Detailed solutions of all the exercises are provided.Contents:The Kinetic Theory of Gases:Velocity and Position Distributions of Molecules in a GasBrownian MotionTransport CoefficientsStatistical Physics of a Paramagnets:Essential Background in ThermodynamicsThermodynamics with Magnetic VariablesMicroscopic States and AveragesIsolated Paramagnet — Microcanonical EnsembleIsolated Paramagnet — Subsystems and TemperatureParamagnet at a Given TemperatureOrder, Disorder and EntropyComparison with ExperimentStatistical Physics and Thermodynamics:The Canonical Ensemble and ThermodynamicsHarmonic Oscillator and Einstein SolidStatistical Mechanics of Classical SystemsStatistical Mechanics of an Ideal GasThe Gibbs Paradox and the Third LawFluctuations and Thermodynamic QuantitiesFrom Ideal Gas to Photon Gas:An Ideal Gas of Molecules with Internal Degrees of FreedomGases in Chemical ReactionsPhonon Gas and the Debye ModelThermodynamics of Electromagnetic RadiationOf Fermions and Bosons:Grand Canonical EnsembleStatistical Mechanics of Identical Quantum ParticlesElectrical Conductivity in MetalsBoson GasReadership: Undergraduate and graduate students in physics and engineering.