Statistical Thermodynamics For Beginners

by Howard D Stidham

Overview

This book is the distilled essence of the author teaching statistical mechanics to juniors, seniors and graduate students for over 50 years in various course settings. It uses a unique approach that leads naturally into the development of all possible ensembles. Much of the later chapters on polymers has previously been available only in the literature. Throughout the book, the assumption is made that the reader is still relatively raw, and mathematical detail is provided that other books leave to the abilities of the reader. While this produces a plethora of equations that mature scientists would regard as unnecessary, it is intended to help those just coming into the field and who want to get the idea without suffering hours of agony wondering, 'where did that come from?'.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789813149939
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/10/2017
Pages:	496
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

Preface v

Chapter 1 Review of Classical Mechanics and Thermodynamics 1

Chapter 2 The Basis of Statistical Mechanics 19

Chapter 3 Steepest Descent 47

Chapter 4 Gaussian Distribution, Ensemble Equivalence and Fluctuations 61

Chapter 5 A Variational Principle, Phase Space, Classical Averaging and Ω 77

Chapter 6 Gases 91

Chapter 7 Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules 113

Chapter 8 Polyatomic Molecules 137

Chapter 9 Residual Entropy and Chemical Equilibrium 165

Chapter 10 Polymers 183

Chapter 11 More Polymers 213

Chapter 12 Excluded Volume of Polymer Chains 239

Chapter 13 Imperfect Gases and Liquids 305

Chapter 14 Bose-Einsteim Fermi-Dirac and Boltzmarm Statistics, Quantum Gas 341

Chapter 15 Adsorption 371

Chapter 16 Heat Capacities of Solids 431

Index 481