Statistical Physics

by Tony Guénault

In this revised and enlarged second edition of an established text, Tony Gu nault provides a clear and refreshingly readable introduction to statistical physics. The treatment itself is self-contained and concentrates on an understanding of the physical ideas, without requiring a high level of mathematical sophistication.

The book adopts a straightforward quantum approach to statistical averaging from the outset. The initial part of the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1402059744
• ISBN13: 9781402059742
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

introduction to stat mech

This is a very clear, though limited, exposition of statistical mechanics. The approach is ground up, from statistical considerations of very simplified systems, generalizations, and subsequent consideration of more complicated systems. I found it interesting that the author chose to consider everything from a purely quantum point of view. And (un)surprisingly, certain calculations become substantially easier to perform. The reader will gain an extremely solid understanding of why the microcanonical and canonical distributions are the way they are. Applications of canonical ensemble theory fill the book. Some examples that come to mind are ortho/para hydrogen gas, BE condensation, cooling by magnetization. For the more advanced reader, there are gaps in motivating certain details. In particular, there is no connection drawn between classical mechanics and kinetic theory and statistical mechanics. Although the lack of which is a debatable subject. I recommend this book because of it's highly focused (quantum), logical approach, that provides a strong framework in stat mech for beginning physics students.