Microstates, entropy and quanta : an introduction to statistical mechanics / Don Koks.
| Author/creator | Koks, Don author. |
| Format | Book |
| Publication | Cham, Switzerland : Springer, [2018] |
| Copyright Date | ©2018 |
| Description | xxiii, 541 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Preliminary ideas of counting, and some useful mathematics -- Accessible states and the fundamental postulate of statistical mechanics -- The laws of thermodynamics -- The first law in detail -- The non-isolated system : the Boltzmann distribution -- The motion of gas particles, and transport processes -- Introductory quantum statistics -- Fermion statistics in metals -- Boson statistics in blackbody radiation. |
| Abstract | "Statistical mechanics: the bane of many a physics student. But when pared back to its underlying concepts and built from the ground up, the field takes on a charm of its own, and embraces a wide variety of physical phenomena. This book presents a straightforward introduction to the key concepts in statistical mechanics, following the popular style of the author's highly successful textbook 'Explorations in Mathematical Physics'. Offering a clear, conceptual approach to the subject matter, the book presents a treatment that is mathematically complete, while remaining very accessible to undergraduates. It commences by showcasing the counting of configurations, which leads to entropy, thermodynamics, and physical chemistry. The Boltzmann and Maxwell distributions then appear, with related topics of thermal conductivity and viscosity. Next come bosons via Einstein's and Debye's theories of heat capacity, and fermions via electrical conduction and low-temperature heat capacity of metals. The text ends with a derivation of blackbody radiation, and uses this to discuss the greenhouse effect, cosmology, and lasers. Suitable for use with core undergraduate courses in statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, this book concentrates on using solid mathematics, while avoiding cumbersome notation. All mathematical steps are included in the text and worked examples"--Page 4 of cover |
| General note | Includes index. |
| Issued in other form | Electronic version: Koks, Don. Microstates, entropy and quanta. Cham, Switzerland : Springer, 2018 9783030024291 |
| Genre/form | Textbooks. |
| Genre/form | Textbooks. |
| LCCN | 2018960736 |
| ISBN | 3030024288 (print) |
| ISBN | 9783030024284 (print) |
| ISBN | (eBook) |
| ISBN | (eBook) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | General Stacks | QC174.8 .K65 2018 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |