Elementary Lectures in Statistical Mechanics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

   PDF

2. Fundamentals: Separable Classical Systems

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Introduction

      • George D.J. Phillies

      Pages 3-10

   3. Averaging and Statistics

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      Pages 11-27

   4. Ensembles: Fundamental Principles of Statistical Mechanics

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      Pages 28-38

   5. The One-Atom Ideal Gas

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      Pages 39-54

   6. The Two-Atom Ideal Gas

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      Pages 55-58

   7. N-Atom Ideal Gas

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      Pages 59-79

   8. Pressure of an Ideal Gas

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      Pages 80-89

   9. How Do Thermometers Work?—The Polythermal Ensemble

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      Pages 90-97

   10. Formal Manipulations of the Partition Function

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       Pages 98-110

   11. Gibbs’s Derivation of Q=exp(—βA)

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       Pages 111-114

   12. Entropy

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       Pages 115-122

   13. Open Systems; Grand Canonical Ensemble

       • George D.J. Phillies

       Pages 123-137

3. Separable Quantum Systems

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 139-139

      PDF

   2. The Diatomic Gas and Other Separable Quantum Systems

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      Pages 141-156

   3. Crystalline Solids

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      Pages 157-168

   4. Quantum Mechanics

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      Pages 169-179

   5. Formal Quantum Statistical Mechanics

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      Pages 180-189

   6. Quantum Statistics

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      Pages 190-207

This volume is based on courses on Statistical Mechanics which I have taught for many years at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. My objective is to treat classical statistical mechanics and its modem applications, especially interacting particles, correlation functions, and time-dependent phenomena. My development is based primarily on Gibbs's ensemble formulation. Elementary Lectures in Statistical Mechanics is meant as a (relatively sophis­ ticated) undergraduate or (relatively straightforward) graduate text for physics students. It should also be suitable as a graduate text for physical chemistry stu­ dents. Physicists may find my treatment of algebraic manipulation to be more explicit than some other volumes. In my experience some of our colleagues are perhaps a bit over-enthusiastic about the ability or tendency of our students to complete gaps in the derivations. I emphasize a cyclic development of major themes. I could have begun with a fully detailed formal treatment of ensemble mechanics, as found in Gibbs's volume, and then given material realizations. I instead interleave formal discussions with simple concrete models. The models illustrate the formal definitions. The approach here gives students a chance to identify fundamental principles and methods before getting buried in ancillary details.

• classical systems
• correlation
• equilibrium properties
• mechanics
• quantum systems
• statistical mechanics

FROM THE REVIEWS:

MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS
"Critical depth and vivid presentation of concepts are the best qualities of this textbook, which can be recommended for an introductory course in statistical mechanics…”

• Department of Physics and Associated Biochemistry Faculty, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, USA

  George D. J. Phillies

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