Statistical Thermodynamics

This2006textbookdiscussesthefundamentalsandapplicationsofstatisticalthermodynamicsforbeginninggraduatestudentsinthephysicalandengineeringsciences.BuildingontheprototypicalMaxwell–Boltzmannmethodandmaintainingastep-by-stepdevelopmentofthesubject,thisbookassumesthereaderhasnopreviousexposuretostatistics,quantummechanicsorspectroscopy.Thebookbeginswiththeessentialsofstatisticalthermodynamics,pausestorecoverneededknowledgefromquantummechanicsandspectroscopy,andthenmovesontoapplicationsinvolvingidealgases,thesolidstateandradiation.Afullintroductiontokinetictheoryisprovided,includingitsapplicationstotransportphenomenaandchemicalkinetics.Ahighlightofthetextbookisitsdiscussionofmodernapplications,suchaslaser-baseddiagnostics.Thebookconcludeswithathoroughpresentationoftheensemblemethod,featuringitsuseforrealgases.Numerousexamplesandpromptedhomeworkproblemsenrichthetext.