Statistical Physics: Elements of Continuity in German History 1871-1945: 13 (Student Physics Series)

Guenault, Tony

ISBN 10: 0415002591 / ISBN 13: 9780415002592

Verlag: Springer, 1988

Beschreibung

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Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers wbs9301148685

Bibliografische Details

• Titel: Statistical Physics: Elements of Continuity in German History 1871-1945: 13 (Student Physics Series)
• Verlag: Springer
• Erscheinungsjahr: 1988
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN-10: 0415002591
• ISBN-13: 9780415002592
• Einband: Softcover
• Zustand: Good

Über diesen Titel

Inhaltsangabe

In this text the author provides a clear introduction to statistical physics, an essential component of any first degree in physics. The treatment itself is self-contained and concentrates on an understanding of the physical ideas, without requiring a high level of mathematical sophistication. A straightforward quantum approach to statistical averaging is adopted from the outset (easier, the author believes, than the classical approach). The initial part of the book is geared towards explaining the equilibrium properties of a simple isolated assembly of particles. Hence several important examples (eg an ideal spin-1/2 solid) can be discussed at an early stage. The treatment of gases gives full coverage to Maxwell-Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics. In the final chapter the student is introduced to a wider viewpoint and so can begin to deal with more advanced concepts. This book should be of interest to second year undergraduate students taking courses in physics, applied physics, electronics and electrical engineering.

Reseña del editor

Statistical physics is not a difficult subject, and I trust that this will not be found a difficult book. It contains much that a number of generations of Lancaster students have studied with me, as part of their physics honours degree work. The lecture course was of twenty hours duration, and I have added comparatively little to the lecture syllabus. A pre­ requisite is that the reader should have a working knowledge of basic thermal physics (i.e. the laws of thermodynamics and their application to simple substances). The book Thermal Physics by Colin Finn in this series forms an ideal introduc­ tion. Statistical physics has a thousand and one different ways of approaching the same basic results. I have chosen a rather down-to-earth and unsophisticated approach, without I hope totally obscuring the considerable interest of the fun­ damentals. This enables applications to be introduced at an early stage in the book. As a low-temperature physicist, I have always found a particular interest in statistical physics, and especially in how the absolute zero is approached. I should not, therefore, apologize for the low-temperature bias in the topics which I have selected from the many possibilities.