Statistical Thermodynamics for Beginners

This book is the distilled essence of the author teaching statistical mechanics to juniors, seniors and graduate students for over 50 years in various course settings. It uses a unique approach that leads naturally into the development of all possible ensembles. Much of the later chapters on polymers has previously been available only in the literature. Throughout the book, the assumption is made that the reader is still relatively raw, and mathematical detail is provided that other books leave to the abilities of the reader. While this produces a plethora of equations that mature scientists would regard as unnecessary, it is intended to help those just coming into the field and who want to get the idea without suffering hours of agony wondering, "where did that come from?".

Contents:

• Preface
• Review of Classical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
• The Basis of Statistical Mechanics
• Steepest Descent
• Gaussian Distribution, Ensemble Equivalence and Fluctuations
• A Variational Principle, Phase Space, Classical Averaging and Ω
• Gases
• Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules
• Polyatomic Molecules
• Residual Entropy and Chemical Equilibrium
• Polymers
• More Polymers
• Excluded Volume of Polymer Chains
• Imperfect Gases and Liquids
• Bose-Einstein, Fermi-Dirac and Boltzmann Statistics, Quantum Gas
• Adsorption
• Heat Capacities of Solids

Readership: Students in statistical mechanics.