Lectures on Quantum Statistics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Basic Physics of Gases and Plasmas

   • Werner Ebeling, Thorsten Pöschel

   Pages 1-17

3. Elements of Quantum Statistical Theory

   • Werner Ebeling, Thorsten Pöschel

   Pages 19-53

4. Ideal Quantum Gases

   • Werner Ebeling, Thorsten Pöschel

   Pages 55-90

5. Density Operators and Other Tools of Quantum Statistics

   • Werner Ebeling, Thorsten Pöschel

   Pages 91-140

6. Real Gas Quantum Statistics

   • Werner Ebeling, Thorsten Pöschel

   Pages 141-170

7. Quantum Statistics of Dilute Plasmas

   • Werner Ebeling, Thorsten Pöschel

   Pages 171-210

8. Non-ideality and Deep Bound States in Plasmas

   • Werner Ebeling, Thorsten Pöschel

   Pages 211-231

9. Non-equilibrium: Kinetic Equations

   • Werner Ebeling, Thorsten Pöschel

   Pages 233-266

10. Back Matter

    Pages 267-271

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Most of the matter in our universe is in a gaseous or plasma state. Yet, most textbooks on quantum statistics focus on examples from and applications in condensed matter systems, due to the prevalence of solids and liquids in our day-to-day lives. In an attempt to remedy that oversight, this book consciously focuses on teaching the subject matter in the context of (dilute) gases and plasmas, while aiming primarily at graduate students and young researchers in the field of quantum gases and plasmas for some of the more advanced topics. The majority of the material is based on a two-semester course held jointly by the authors over many years, and has benefited from extensive feedback provided by countless students and co-workers. The book also includes many historical remarks on the roots of quantum statistics: firstly because students appreciate and are strongly motivated by looking back at the history of a given field of research, and secondly because the spirit permeating this book has been deeply influenced by meetings and discussions with several pioneers of quantum statistics over the past few decades.

• real quantum gas
• Virial expansion
• Quantum kinetic theory
• Bound states in plasmas
• Phase transitions in cold quantum gases

“This book serves as an excellent source of information related to the theory of quantum statistics and its application to gases and plasmas. … I strongly recommend this book for graduate students and young researchers in physics, as well as for all researchers working on quantum statistics and related fields. They definitely may benefit from reading the book.” (Trifce Sandev, zbMATH 1447.82001, 2020)

• FB Physik, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

  Werner Ebeling

• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

  Thorsten Pöschel

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