Statistical Physics

THE MANCHESTER PHYSICS SERIES. Statistical Physics, Second Edition. develops a unified treatment of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, which emphasises the statistical nature of the laws of thermo-dynamics and the atomic nature of matter. Prominence is given to the Gibbs distribution, leading to a simple treatment of quantum statistics and of chemical reactions. Undergraduate students of physics and related sciences will find this a stimulating account of the basic physics and its applications. Only an elementary knowledge of kinetic theory and atomic physics, as well as the rudiments of quantum theory, are presupposed for an under-standing of this book. Statistical Physics, Second Edition. features: A fully integrated treatment of thermo-dynamics and statistical mechanics. A flow diagram allowing topics to be studied in different orders or omitted altogether. Optional "starred" and highlighted sections containing more advanced and specialised material for the more ambitious reader. Sets of problems at the end of each chapter to help student understanding. Hints for solving the problems are given in an Appendix.