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  • Textbook
  • © 1999

Statistical Mechanics

A Short Treatise

  • The author is one of the leading scientists in mathematical physics and a well-known expert in statistical mechanics
  • This work on the fundamental concepts is unparalleled in the literature
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Theoretical and Mathematical Physics (TMP)

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XIV
  2. Classical Statistical Mechanics

    • Giovanni Gallavotti
    Pages 1-55
  3. Statistical Ensembles

    • Giovanni Gallavotti
    Pages 57-87
  4. Equipartition and Critique

    • Giovanni Gallavotti
    Pages 89-110
  5. Thermodynamic Limit and Stability

    • Giovanni Gallavotti
    Pages 111-127
  6. Phase Transitions

    • Giovanni Gallavotti
    Pages 129-173
  7. Coexistence of Phases

    • Giovanni Gallavotti
    Pages 175-207
  8. Exactly Soluble Models

    • Giovanni Gallavotti
    Pages 209-231
  9. Brownian Motion

    • Giovanni Gallavotti
    Pages 233-251
  10. Coarse Graining and Nonequilibrium

    • Giovanni Gallavotti
    Pages 253-312
  11. Back Matter

    Pages 313-339

About this book

This book presents a critical and modern analysis of the conceptual foundations of statistical mechanics as laid down in Boltzmann's works. The author emphasizes the relation between microscopic reversibility and macroscopic irreversibility. Students will find a clear and detailed explanation of fundamental concepts such as equipartition, entropy, and ergodicity. They will learn about Brownian motion, the modern treatment of the thermodynamic limit phase transitions, the microscopic and macroscopic theory of the coexistence of phases, statistical mechanics of stationary states, and fluctuations and dissipation in chaotic motions.

Reviews

From the reviews
"Gallavotti has written a somewhat ideological and quite personal book. Certainly one may disagree with him on some issues. But he has expert knowledge of what he discusses and also of many things he chooses not to discuss. And since he also knows the history of the subject, his opinion must be taken seriously. We may thus thank Gallavotti for giving us a fresh, authorative and readable introduction to a fundamental area of conceptual physics." (D. Ruelle, Physics Today, 2001)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, Roma, Italy

    Giovanni Gallavotti

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Statistical Mechanics

  • Book Subtitle: A Short Treatise

  • Authors: Giovanni Gallavotti

  • Series Title: Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03952-6

  • Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1999

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-540-64883-3Published: 21 July 1999

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-642-08438-6Published: 19 October 2010

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-662-03952-6Published: 11 November 2013

  • Series ISSN: 1864-5879

  • Series E-ISSN: 1864-5887

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIV, 342

  • Topics: Complex Systems, Thermodynamics, Statistical Physics and Dynamical Systems

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access