Molecular Structure And Statistical Thermodynamics

In the course of his distinguished career of over 55 years, Kenneth S Pitzer published over 360 scientific papers. Included in this volume are 72 papers, selected for their historical importance and continuing significance. In early work, where spectroscopic data were incomplete or, later on, where the systems of interest were so complex that a deductive solution from molecular information was impractical, Pitzer interrelated molecular structural information, statistical methods and thermodynamic measurements to advance the understanding of molecular systems. This volume considers all three aspects and, by putting together selected papers, highlights the cohesiveness of certain advances through time and development. Several papers from journals not widely circulated can also be found in this selection of papers.

A Course in Statistical Thermodynamics explores the physical aspects of the methodology of statistical thermodynamics without the use of advanced mathematical methods. This book is divided into 14 chapters that focus on a correct statement of the Gibbsian ensemble theory couched in quantum-mechanical terms throughout. The introductory chapters emphasize the concept of equilibrium, phase space, the principle of their quantization, and the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and spectroscopy. These topics are followed by an exposition of the statistical method, revealing that the structure of the physical theory is closely modeled on mathematical statistics. A chapter focuses on stationary ensembles and the restatement of the First, Second, and Third Law of Thermodynamics. The remaining chapters highlight the various specialized applications of statistical thermodynamics, including real and degenerate gases, simple solids, radiation, magnetic systems, nonequilibrium states, and fluctuations. These chapters also provide a rigorous derivation of Boltzmann's equation, the H-theorem, and the vexing paradox that arises when microscopic reversibility must be reconciled with irreversible behavior in the large. This book can be used for two semesters in the junior or senior years, or as a first-year graduate course in statistical thermodynamics.

This book considers molecular structural information, statistical methods and thermodynamic measurements, and the ways in which the relative role of each differs from another. By putting together selected papers in a single publication, the book highlights the cohesive aspects of certain advances through time and development, and can aid historical studies. Several papers from journals not widely circulated can also be found in this selection of papers.

From the hydrophobic effect to protein-ligand binding, statistical physics is relevant in almost all areas of molecular biophysics and biochemistry, making it essential for modern students of molecular behavior. But traditional presentations of this material are often difficult to penetrate. Statistical Physics of Biomolecules: An Introduction brin

Extensively revised edition of a much-respected work examines thermodynamics of irreversible processes, general principles of statistical thermodynamics, assemblies of noninteracting structureless particles, and statistical theory. 1966 edition.