TY - BOOK AU - Hoch,M.J.R. TI - Statistical and thermal physics: an introduction SN - 9781439850534 (hardback) AV - QC171.2 .H63 2011 U1 - 530.13 23 PY - 2011/// CY - United States of America PB - Taylor & Francis KW - Matter KW - Properties KW - Mathematical models KW - Statistical physics KW - Thermodynamics N1 - Includes bibliographical references and index; chapter 1|18 pages Introduction: Basic Concepts Title chapter 2|24 pages Energy: The First Law Title chapter 3|28 pages Entropy: The Second Law Title chapter 4|20 pages Microstates for Large Systems Title chapter 5|20 pages Entropy and Temperature: Microscopic Statistical Interpretation Title chapter 6|16 pages Zero Kelvin and the Third Law Title chapter 7|28 pages Applications of Thermodynamics to Gases: The Title chapter 8|14 pages Applications of Thermodynamics to Condensed Matter Title chapter 9|24 pages Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena Title chapter 10|24 pages Ensembles and the Canonical Distribution Title chapter 11|16 pages The Grand Canonical Distribution Title chapter 12|16 pages The Quantum Distribution Functions Title chapter 13|20 pages Ideal Fermi Gas Title chapter 14|12 pages Ideal Bose Gas Title chapter 15|20 pages Photons and Phonons—The “Planck Gas” Title chapter 16|18 pages The Classical Ideal Gas Title chapter 17|26 pages Nonideal Systems Title chapter 18|16 pages The Density Matrix Title chapter 19|14 pages Reactions and Related Processes Title chapter 20|18 pages Introduction to Irreversible Thermodynamics N2 - "Concepts and relationships in thermal and statistical physics form the foundation for describing systems consisting of macroscopically large numbers of particles. Developing microscopic statistical physics and macroscopic classical thermodynamic descriptions in tandem, Statistical and Thermal Physics: An Introduction provides insight into basic concepts at an advanced undergraduate level. Highly detailed and profoundly thorough, this comprehensive introduction includes exercises within the text as well as end-of-chapter problems. The first section of the book covers the basics of equilibrium thermodynamics and introduces the concepts of temperature, internal energy, and entropy using ideal gases and ideal paramagnets as models. The chemical potential is defined and the three thermodynamic potentials are discussed with use of Legendre transforms. The second section presents a complementary microscopic approach to entropy and temperature, with the general expression for entropy given in terms of the number of accessible microstates in the fixed energy, microcanonical ensemble. The third section emphasizes the power of thermodynamics in the description of processes in gases and condensed matter. Phase transitions and critical phenomena are discussed phenomenologically.In the second half of the text, the fourth section briefly introduces probability theory and mean values and compares three statistical ensembles. With a focus on quantum statistics, the fifth section reviews the quantum distribution functions. Ideal Fermi and Bose gases are considered in separate chapters, followed by a discussion of the "Planck" gas for photons and phonons. The sixth section deals with ideal classical gases and explores nonideal gases and spin systems using various approximations. The final section covers special topics, specifically the density matrix, chemical reactions, and irreversible thermodynamics. "--; "Thermal and statistical physics concepts and relationships are of fundamental importance in the description of systems that consist of macroscopically large numbers of particles. This book provides an introduction to the subject at the advanced undergraduate level for students interested in careers in basic or applied physics. The subject can be developed in different ways that take either macroscopic classical thermodynamics or microscopic statistical physics as topics for initial detailed study"-- ER -