20 Best Book For Statistical Mechanics (2023 Update)

Leading physical chemist david chandler takes a new approach to statistical mechanics to provide the only introductory-level work on the modern topics of renormalization group theory, monte carlo simulations, time correlation functions, and liquid structure. the author provides compact summaries of the fundamentals of this branch of physics and discussions of many of its traditional elementary applications, interspersed with over 150 exercises and microcomputer programs. a solutions manual for this text is available with isbn: 9780195058895.

Referred to by every later author, used by thousands of students in the over forty years since publication, and recommended with great enthusiasm by those same students who are now professors, the principles of statistical mechanics is widely recognized as the classic treatment of a subject essential to contemporary physics. it is the definitive treatise on the fundamentals of statistical mechanics, and because it deals with the fundamentals, the material is as useful today as forty years ago.after a brief introduction, the text begins with a concise exposition of classical statistical mechanics, including such topics as hamilton's principle, the lagrangian function, canonical equations of motion, the fundamental theorem of liouville, conditions for statistical equilibrium, the maxwell-boltzmann distribution law, collisions as a mechanism of change with time, and boltzmann's h-theorem. there follows a thorough elucidation of quantum statistical mechanics: historical remarks, the postulates, theorems illustrating the nature of quantum mechanics, transformation theory, applications, statistical ensembles, the maxwell-boltzmann, einstein-bose, and fermi-dirac distributions, the change in quantum mechanical systems with time, and the quantum mechanical h-theorem. (the self-contained treatment of quantum mechanics is almost a book within a book!) the final two chapters, illuminating one of the greatest achievements of physics, discuss the application of statistical mechanics to the problem of obtaining a mechanical explanation for the phenomena of thermodynamic behavior.professor richard c. tolman was a distinguished physicist who taught at the california institute of technology. in the course of preparing this book he consulted with many eminent colleagues including pauling, fowler, and pauli, and he discussed all parts of the book with j. robert oppenheimer. scholars interested in the history of science can readily appreciate the importance of this book; but since it is so totally authoritative, and so elegantly written, every student and professor of statistical mechanics will find it equally valuable.

The canonical ensemble – other ensembles and fluctuations – boltzmann statistics, fermi-dirac statistics, and bose-einstein statistics – ideal monatomic gas – ideal diatomic – classical statistical mechanics – ideal polyatomic – chemical equilibrium – quantum statistics – crystals – imperfect gases – distribution functions in classical monatomic liquids – perturbation theories of liquids – solutions of strong electrolytes – kinetic theory of gases and molecular collisions – continuum mechanics – kinetic theory of-gases and the boltzmann equation – transport processes in dilute gases – theory of brownian motion – the time-correlation function formalism.

Learn classical thermodynamics alongside statistical mechanics with this fresh approach to the subjects. molecular and macroscopic principles are explained in an integrated, side-by-side manner to give students a deep, intuitive understanding of thermodynamics and equip them to tackle future research topics that focus on the nanoscale. entropy is introduced from the get-go, providing a clear explanation of how the classical laws connect to the molecular principles, and closing the gap between the atomic world and thermodynamics. notation is streamlined throughout, with a focus on general concepts and simple models, for building basic physical intuition and gaining confidence in problem analysis and model development. well over 400 guided end-of-chapter problems are included, addressing conceptual, fundamental, and applied skill sets. numerous worked examples are also provided together with handy shaded boxes to emphasize key concepts, making this the complete teaching package for students in chemical engineering and the chemical sciences.

This book discusses the computational approach in modern statistical physics in a clear yet accessible way, and works out its intimate relations with other approaches in theoretical physics. individual chapters focus on subjects as diverse as the hard sphere liquid, classical spin models, single quantum particles and bose-einstein condensation. they contain in-depth discussions of algorithms ranging from basic enumeration methods to modern monte carlo techniques. the emphasis is on orientation. discussions of implementation details are kept to a minimum. the book heavily relies on illustrations, tables and concise printed algorithms to convey key information: all the material remains easily accessible. the book is fully self-contained: graphs and tables can be readily reproduced by programming at most a few dozen lines of computer code. most sections lead from an elementary discussion to the rich and difficult problems of contemporary computational and statistical physics, and will be of interest to a wide range of students, teachers and researchers in physics and the neighboring sciences. an accompanying cd allows to incorporate the layout material (illustrations, tables, schematic programs) into the reader's own presentations.

This book provides a series of concise lectures on the fundamental theories of statistical mechanics, carefully chosen examples and a number of problems with complete solutions. modern physics has opened the way for a thorough examination of infra-structure of nature and understanding of the properties of matter from an atomistic point of view. statistical mechanics is an essential bridge between the laws of nature on a microscopic scale and the macroscopic behaviour of matter. a good training in statistical mechanics thus provides a basis for modern physics and is indispensable to any student in physics, chemistry, biophysics and engineering sciences who wishes to work in these rapidly developing scientific and technological fields. the collection of examples and problems is comprehensive. the problems are grouped in order of increasing difficulty.

More than a generation of german-speaking students around the world have worked their way to an understanding and appreciation of the power and beauty of modem theoretical physics-with mathematics, the most fundamental of sciences-using waiter greiner's textbooks as their guide. the idea of developing a coherent, complete presentation of an entire field of science in a series of closely related textbooks is not a new one. many older physicians remember with real pleasure their sense of adventure and discovery as they worked their ways through the classic series by sommerfeld, by planck and by landau and lifshitz. from the students' viewpoint, there are a great many obvious advantages to be gained through use of consistent notation, logical ordering of topics and coherence of presentation; beyond this, the complete coverage of the science provides a unique opportunity for the author to convey his personal enthusiasm and love for his subject. these volumes on classical physics, finally available in english, complement greiner's texts on quantum physics, most of which have been available to english-speaking audiences for some time. the complete set of books will thus provide a coherent view of physics that includes, in classical physics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, classical dynam ics, electromagnetism, and general relativity; and in quantum physics, quantum mechanics, symmetries, relativistic quantum mechanics, quantum electro- and chromodynamics, and the gauge theory of weak interactions.

The science of statistical mechanics is concerned with defining the thermodynamic properties of a macroscopic sample in terms of the properties of the microscopic systems of which it is composed. the aim of this book is to provide a clear, logical, and self-contained treatment of equilibrium statistical mechanics starting from boltzmann's two statistical assumptions, and to present a wide variety of applications to diverse physical assemblies. the coverage is enhanced and extended through an extensive set of accessible problems. an appendix provides an introduction to non-equilibrium statistical mechanics through the boltzmann equation and its extensions. the book assumes introductory courses in classical and quantum mechanics, as well as familiarity with multi-variable calculus and the essentials of complex analysis. some knowledge of thermodynamics is assumed, although the book starts with an appropriate review of that topic. the targeted audience is first-year graduate students, and advanced undergraduates, in physics, chemistry, and the related physical sciences. the goal of this text is to help the reader obtain a clear working knowledge of the very useful and powerful methods of equilibrium statistical mechanics and to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the more advanced texts.

Excellent … a welcome addition to the literature on the subject. — sciencebefore the publication of this standard, oft-cited book, there were few if any statistical-mechanics texts that incorporated reviews of both fundamental principles and recent developments in the field.in this volume, professor hill offers just such a dual presentation — a useful account of basic theory and of its applications, made accessible in a comprehensive format. the book opens with concise, unusually clear introductory chapters on classical statistical mechanics, quantum statistical mechanics and the relation of statistical mechanics to thermodynamics. then follows a wide-ranging, detailed examination of various applications. chapter 4 deals with fluctuations. the fifth chapter treats the theory of imperfect gases and condensation, largely following mayer's theory but also giving some new, alternative derivations and discussing in the final section yang and lee's theory. the sixth chapter is devoted to a discussion of distribution functions and the theory of the liquid state. chapter 7 deals with nearest-neighbor (ising) lattice statistics, while the last chapter discusses free-volume and hole theories of liquids and solids.written primarily for graduate students and researchers in chemistry, physics and biology who already have some acquaintance with statistical mechanics, the book lends itself to use as a text for a second course in statistical mechanics, as a supplement to a first course or for self-study or reference. in addition, selected bibliographic references at the end of each chapter suggest supplementary reading.

Many people, including physicists, are confused about what the second law of thermodynamics really means, about how it relates to the arrow of time, and about whether it can be derived from classical mechanics. they also wonder what entropy really is: is it all about information? but, if so, then, what is its relation to fluxes of heat? and what notion of probability is used in the natural sciences, in particular statistical mechanics? this book addresses all of these questions in the clear and pedagogical style for which the author is known. although valuable as accompaniment to an undergraduate course on statistical mechanics or thermodynamics, it is not a standard course book. instead it addresses both the essentials and the many subtle questions that are usually brushed under the carpet in such courses. as one of the most lucid accounts of the above questions, it provides enlightening reading for all those seeking answers, including students, lecturers, researchers and philosophers of science.

In a comprehensive treatment of statistical mechanics from thermodynamics through the renormalization group, this book serves as the core text for a full-year graduate course in statistical mechanics at either the masters or ph.d. level. each chapter contains numerous exercises, and several chapters treat special topics which can be used as the basis for student projects. the concept of scaling is introduced early and used extensively throughout the text. at the heart of the book is an extensive treatment of mean field theory, from the simplest decoupling approach, through the density matrix formalism, to self-consistent classical and quantum field theory as well as exact solutions on the cayley tree. proceeding beyond mean field theory, the book discusses exact mappings involving potts models, percolation, self-avoiding walks and quenched randomness, connecting various athermal and thermal models. computational methods such as series expansions and monte carlo simulations are discussed, along with exact solutions to the 1d quantum and 2d classical ising models. the renormalization group formalism is developed, starting from real-space rg and proceeding through a detailed treatment of wilson’s epsilon expansion. finally the subject of kosterlitz-thouless systems is introduced from a historical perspective and then treated by methods due to anderson, kosterlitz, thouless and young. altogether, this comprehensive, up-to-date, and engaging text offers an ideal package for advanced undergraduate or graduate courses or for use in self study.

This textbook provides a comprehensive, yet accessible, introduction to statistical mechanics. crafted and class-tested over many years of teaching, it carefully guides advanced undergraduate and graduate students who are encountering statistical mechanics for the first time through this – sometimes – intimidating subject. the book provides a strong foundation in thermodynamics and the ensemble formalism of statistical mechanics. an introductory chapter on probability theory is included. applications include degenerate fermi systems, bose-einstein condensation, cavity radiation, phase transitions, and critical phenomena. the book concludes with a treatment of scaling theories and the renormalization group. in addition, it provides clear descriptions of how to understand the foundational mathematics and physics involved and includes exciting case studies of modern applications of the subject in physics and wider interdisciplinary areas. key features: presents the subject in a clear and entertaining style which enables the author to take a sophisticated approach whilst remaining accessible contains contents that have been carefully reviewed with a substantial panel to ensure that coverage is appropriate for a wide range of courses, worldwide accompanied by volumes on thermodynamics and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, which can be used in conjunction with this book, on courses which cover both thermodynamics and statistical mechanics

This textbook provides a comprehensive, yet accessible, introduction to statistical mechanics. crafted and class-tested over many years of teaching, it carefully guides advanced undergraduate and graduate students who are encountering statistical mechanics for the first time through this – sometimes – intimidating subject. the book provides a strong foundation in thermodynamics and the ensemble formalism of statistical mechanics. an introductory chapter on probability theory is included. applications include degenerate fermi systems, bose-einstein condensation, cavity radiation, phase transitions, and critical phenomena. the book concludes with a treatment of scaling theories and the renormalization group. in addition, it provides clear descriptions of how to understand the foundational mathematics and physics involved and includes exciting case studies of modern applications of the subject in physics and wider interdisciplinary areas. key features: presents the subject in a clear and entertaining style which enables the author to take a sophisticated approach whilst remaining accessible contains contents that have been carefully reviewed with a substantial panel to ensure that coverage is appropriate for a wide range of courses, worldwide accompanied by volumes on thermodynamics and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, which can be used in conjunction with this book, on courses which cover both thermodynamics and statistical mechanics

Statistical physics ii introduces nonequilibrium theories of statistical mechanics from the viewpoint of the fluctuation-disipation theorem. emphasis is placed on the relaxation from nonequilibrium to equilibrium states, the response of a system to an external disturbance, and general problems involved in deriving a macroscopic physical process from more basic underlying processes. fundamental concepts and methods are stressed, rather than the numerous individual applications. springer statistical physics ii introduces nonequilibrium theories of statistical mechanics from the viewpoint of the fluctuation-disipation theorem. emphasis is placed on the relaxation from nonequilibrium to equilibrium states, the response of a system to an external disturbance, and general problems involved in deriving a macroscopic physical process from more basic underlying processes. fundamental concepts and methods are stressed, rather than the numerous individual applications. statistical physics ii introduces nonequilibrium theories of statistical mechanics from the viewpoint of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. emphasis is placed on relaxation from nonequilibrium to equilibrium states, the response of a system to an external disturbance, and general problems involved in deriving a macroscopic physical process from more basic underlying processes. fundamental concepts and methods are stressed, rather than the numerous individual applications.

This concise monograph is devoted to techniques of solving many-body problems in physics using the quantum-mechanical green function method. suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students of physics, it requires some familiarity with the basic theory of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. focusing on the general method, the treatment begins by establishing the connection between the green functions and the thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of a system. subsequent chapters illustrate the method and apply it to different problems in the physics of condensed media, including the theory of electron plasmas in solids, electron-phonon interactions, and ferromagnetism at finite temperatures. seven helpful appendixes offer supplementary information.

The present book is a teaching text designed to introduce the fundamentals of the subject of statistical mechanics at a level suitable for students who meet the subject for the first time. the treatment given is designed to give the student a feeling for the topic of statistical mechanics without being held back by the need to understand complex mathematics. the text is concise and concentrates on the understanding of fundamental aspects. numerous questions with worked solutions are given throughout.

2014 reprint of 1949 edition. full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with optical recognition software. the translation of this important work brings to the american mathematician and physicist a useful work of statistical mechanics. it offers a precise and mathematically satisfactory formulation of the problems of statistical mechanics and provides the analytic tools needed to replace many of the cumbersome concepts and devices commonly found in more basic works on the subject. and above all, it furnishes the mathematician approaching the subject for the first time with a logical, step-by-step introduction, written in mathematical terms, to aid in mastering the subject in the shortest possible time. contents include: geometry and kinematics of the phase space. — ergodic problem. — reduction to the problem of the theory of probability. — application of the central limit theorem. — ideal monatomic gas. — the foundation of thermodynamics. — dispersion and the distributions of sum functions. aleksandr khinchin was a soviet mathematician and one of the most significant people in the soviet school of probability theory.

Most of the interesting and difficult problems in statistical mechanics arise when the constituent particles of the system interact with each other with pair or multi particle energies. the types of behaviour which occur in systems because of these interactions are referred to as cooperative phenomena giving rise in many cases to phase transitions. this book and its companion volume (lavis and bell 1999, referred to in the text simply as volume 2) are princi pally concerned with phase transitions in lattice systems. due mainly to the insights gained from scaling theory and renormalization group methods, this 1 subject has developed very rapidly over the last thirty years. a broad division of material can be made between exact results and ap proximation methods. the other main area of discussion in this volume is mean-field theory leading to closed form approximations. although this is known not to give reliable results close to a critical region, it often provides a good qualitative picture for phase dia grams as a whole. for complicated systems some kind of mean-field method is often the only tractable method available.

Statistical mechanics: the bane of many a physics student, and traditionally viewed as a long parade of ensembles, partition functions, and partial derivatives. but the subject needn't be arcane. when pared back to its underlying concepts and built from the ground up, statistical mechanics takes on a charm of its own, and sheds light on all manner of physical phenomena.this book presents a straightforward introduction to the key concepts in statistical mechanics, following the popular style of the author's highly successful textbook "explorations in mathematical physics". offering a clear, conceptual approach to the subject matter, the book presents a treatment that is mathematically complete, while remaining very accessible to undergraduates.it commences by asking: why does an ink drop spread out in a bathtub of water? this showcases the importance of counting configurations, which leads naturally to ideas of microstates, energy, entropy, thermodynamics, and physical chemistry. with this foundation, the boltzmann distribution writes itself in its fullest form, and this opens the door to the maxwell distribution and related areas of thermal conductivity and viscosity. quantum ideas then appear: bosons via einstein's and debye's theories of heat capacity, and fermions via electrical conduction and low-temperature heat capacity of metals. the text ends with a detailed derivation of blackbody radiation, and uses this to discuss the greenhouse effect, lasers, and cosmology.suitable for use with core undergraduate courses in statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, this book concentrates on using solid mathematics, while avoiding cumbersome notation. all the necessary mathematical steps are included in the body of the text and in the worked examples. reviews of explorations in mathematical physics by don koks, 2006 "with enjoyable and sometimes surprising excursions along the way, the journey provides a fresh look at many familiar topics, as it takes us from basic linear mathematics to general relativity… look forward to having your geometric intuition nourished and expanded by the author's intelligent commentaries." (eugen merzbacher, university of north carolina) "… an interesting supplement to standard texts for teaching mathematical methods in physics, as it will add alternative views that could serve as additional material." (s. marcelja, australian journal of physics) "… a tour through the main ideas forming the language of modern mathematical physics …it is a difficult task for the author to decide what is a good balance between the topics and their presentation, but in this case it has been achieved. …for those physicists who would like to be exposed to clear motivation and careful explanation of the basics of the present-day apparatus of mathematical physics." (ivailo mladenov, mathematical reviews).

A modern course in statistical physics is a textbook that illustrates the foundations of equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical physics, and the universal nature of thermodynamic processes, from the point of view of contemporary research problems. the book treats such diverse topics as the microscopic theory of critical phenomena, superfluid dynamics, quantum conductance, light scattering, transport processes, and dissipative structures, all in the framework of the foundations of statistical physics and thermodynamics. it shows the quantum origins of problems in classical statistical physics. one focus of the book is fluctuations that occur due to the discrete nature of matter, a topic of growing importance for nanometer scale physics and biophysics. another focus concerns classical and quantum phase transitions, in both monatomic and mixed particle systems. this fourth edition extends the range of topics considered to include, for example, entropic forces, electrochemical processes in biological systems and batteries, adsorption processes in biological systems, diamagnetism, the theory of bose-einstein condensation, memory effects in brownian motion, the hydrodynamics of binary mixtures. a set of exercises and problems is to be found at the end of each chapter and, in addition, solutions to a subset of the problems is provided. the appendices cover exact differentials, ergodicity, number representation, scattering theory, and also a short course on probability.