Description
Book SynopsisThis 2006 textbook discusses the fundamentals and applications of statistical thermodynamics for beginning graduate students in the physical and engineering sciences. It features a step-by-step development of the subject assuming that the reader has no previous exposure to statistics, quantum mechanics or spectroscopy. Numerous examples and prompted homework problems enrich the text.
Trade Review'… presents a general and complete overview of statistical thermodynamics mainly for beginners or engineers, linking this science to quantum mechanics and to classical thermodynamics … Throughout the whole book, the author presents many figures which illustrate the concepts he introduces. He draws the computations with precise details and illustrates these computations with their physical background.' Alain Brillard, Zentralblatt MATH
Table of ContentsPreface; 1. Introduction; Part I. Fundamentals of Statistical Thermodynamics: 2. Probability and statistics; Problem set I. Probability theory and statistical mathematics; 3. The statistics of independent particles; 4. Thermodynamics properties in the dilute limit; Problem set II. Statistical modeling for thermodynamics; Part II. Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy: 5. Basics of quantum mechanics; 6. Quantum analysis of internal energy modes; 7. The spectroscopy of diatomic molecules; Problem set III. Quantum mechanics and spectroscopy; Part III. Statistical Thermodynamics in the Dilute Limit: 8. Interlude: from particle to assembly; 9. Thermodynamic properties of the ideal gas; Problem set IV. Thermodynamic properties of the ideal gas; 10. Statistical thermodynamics for ideal gas mixtures; 11. Concentration and temperature measurements; Problem set V. Chemical equilibrium and diagnostics; Part IV. Statistical Thermodynamics beyond the Dilute Limit: 12. Thermodynamics and information; 13. Elements of the solid state; 14. Equilibrium radiation; Problem set VI. The solid state and radiation; Part V. Non-Equilibrium Statistical Thermodynamics: 15. Elementary kinetic theory; 16. Kinetics of molecular transport; 17. Chemical kinetics; Problem set VII. Kinetic theory and molecular transport; Part VI. The Ensemble Method of Statistical Thermodynamics: 18. The canonical and grand canonical ensembles; 19. Applications of ensemble theory to real gases; Problem set VIII. Ensemble theory and the non-ideal gas; 20. Whence and whither; Part VII. Appendices; Index.