Reif F

Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics - Kolkata Levant Books 2010

1. Introduction to statistical methods;
2. Statistical description of systems of particles;
3. Statistical thermodynamics;
4. Macroscopic parameters and their measurement;
5. Simple applications of macroscopic thermodynamics;
6. Basic methods and results of statistical mechanics;
7. Simple applications of statistical mechanics;
8. Equilibrium between phases or chemical species;
9. Quantum statistics of ideal gases;
10. Systems of interacting particles;
11. Magnetism and low temperatures;
12. Elementary kinetic theory of transport processes;
13. Transport theory using the relaxation time approximation;
14. Near-exact formulation of transport theory;
15. Irreversible processes and fluctuations;

Appendices;
Numerical constants;
Bibliography;
Answers to selected problems;
Index

This book is devoted to a discussion of some of the basic physical concepts and methods useful in the description of situations involving systems which consist of very many particulars. It attempts, in particular, to introduce the reader to the disciplines of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and kinetic theory from a unified and modern point of view. The presentation emphasizes the essential unity of the subject matter and develops physical insight by stressing the microscopic content of the theory

9789380663142

QC175