Statistical Mechanics And The Foundations Of Thermodynamics

This title builds from basic principles to advanced techniques, and covers the major phenomena, methods, and results of time-dependent systems. It is a pedagogic introduction, a comprehensive reference manual, and an original research monograph--

The account of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics in Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics is based on entropy and its maximization. Building from first principles, it gives a transparent explanation of the physical behaviour of equilibrium thermodynamic systems, and it presents a comprehensive, self-contained account of the modern mathematical and computational techniques of statistical mechanics. This field of study is of vital importance to researchers, lecturers and students alike. Dr Attard is a well-known researcher in statistical mechanics who has made significant contributions to this field. His book offers a fresh perspective on the foundations of statistical thermodynamics. It includes a number of new results and novel derivations, and provides an intriguing alternative to existing monographs. Especially of note are the simple graphs and figures that illustrate the text throughout and the logical organization of the material. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics will be an invaluable and comprehensive reference manual for research scientists. This text can be used as a complement to existing texts and for supplementary reading. Offers a fresh perspective on the foundations of statistical thermodynamics Includes a number of new results and novel derivations, and provides an intriguing alternative to existing monographs Simple graphs and figures illustrate the text throughout Logical organization of material An invaluable and comprehensive reference manual for research scientists Can be used as a complement to existing texts and for supplementary reading

Phase space, ergodic problems, central limit theorem, dispersion and distribution of sum functions. Chapters include Geometry and Kinematics of the Phase Space; Ergodic Problem; Reduction to the Problem of the Theory of Probability; Application of the Central Limit Theorem; Ideal Monatomic Gas; The Foundation of Thermodynamics; and more.

Well respected, widely used volume presents problems and full solutions related to a wide range of topics in thermodynamics, statistical physics, statistical mechanics. Suitable for undergraduates and graduate students, self-study, reference. 1989 edition.

This 1902 book by the great American mathematician gives his mature vision of thermodynamics and statistical physics.

In a certain sense this book has been twenty-five years in the writing, since I first struggled with the foundations of the subject as a graduate student. It has taken that long to develop a deep appreciation of what Gibbs was attempting to convey to us near the end of his life and to understand fully the same ideas as resurrected by E.T. Jaynes much later. Many classes of students were destined to help me sharpen these thoughts before I finally felt confident that, for me at least, the foundations of the subject had been clarified sufficiently. More than anything, this work strives to address the following questions: What is statistical mechanics? Why is this approach so extraordinarily effective in describing bulk matter in terms of its constituents? The response given here is in the form of a very definite point of view-the principle of maximum entropy (PME). There have been earlier attempts to approach the subject in this way, to be sure, reflected in the books by Tribus [Thermostat ics and Thermodynamics, Van Nostrand, 1961], Baierlein [Atoms and Information Theory, Freeman, 1971], and Hobson [Concepts in Statistical Mechanics, Gordon and Breach, 1971].