The book is meant to be primarily a textbook. Therefore most of the examples of special thermodynamic systems are standards in different fields. The number of the examples, however, is restricted. For more applications we refer the reader to the rich literature on thermodynamics. The author hopes that the book, which is concerned above all with basic connections, will be interesting not only for students but also for academic teachers and other scientists who like the structural analysis of fundamentals in physics. According to the character of a textbook, this book is not intended to demonstrate new results. Nevertheless, the way of the logical deductions, and of the presentations used in this book, as well as the choice of illustrating examples are not only influenced by literature but also by discussions with colleagues and friends. In this respect I should like to mention the Professors A. Stahl, J. Meixner, R. Bausch, H.-K. Janssen, R. Bessenrodt, Dr. E. Scholl, and Dr. C. Escher in Germany, as well as Professor C. A. Mead in Minneapolis, and Professor R. St. Berry in Chicago. Particular thank is directed to Professor V. Dohm for critically reading certain parts of the manuscript and making valuable proposals for improvements.
