Overview

Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics: A Practical Approach offers a fresh take on the traditional graduate-level physics course. It emphasizes the tools needed to apply statistical mechanics in research across a wide variety of fields, while maintaining the rigor necessary for a clear exposition. The book is designed to support an active-learning approach, using numerous conceptual questions and example problems with solutions so that students can practice and self-assess their understanding as they progress. Topics covered include: Boltzmann systems (Boltzmann distribution, partition functions, classical systems, coordinate distributions, Boltzmann transport equation) Quantum systems (degenerate Fermi gases, Pauli paramagnetism, Landau diamagnetism, Bose-Einstein condensation, blackbody radiation, Debye model) Thermodynamics (laws of thermodynamics, entropy, relation between thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, free energy functions, chemical equilibrium, response functions, thermodynamics of magnetic systems) Ensemble theory (microcanonical, canonical and grand canonical ensembles, density matrix theory, phase space, the Liouville equation, kinetic theory) Interacting systems (virial approximation, Ising model, van der Waals gas, phase transitions, critical phenomena) The order of presentation is motivated by research in pedagogical scaffolding, with the most direct and applicable techniques presented first and more abstract concepts delayed until students have developed a basic level of proficiency. Scaffolding and active learning have seen widespread application in introductory physics courses, but the pedagogy remains effective at all levels.

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9780960065905

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"From anonymous student evaluations: ""Excellent textbook"" ""The text was very informative and helpful"" ""I found it to be better than any similar text on the subject. The design of a few solved problems along with homework exercises also helped make the material more clear."" ""The textbook is amazing."" ""I liked it a lot."""

From anonymous student evaluations: Excellent textbook The text was very informative and helpful I found it to be better than any similar text on the subject. The design of a few solved problems along with homework exercises also helped make the material more clear. The textbook is amazing. I liked it a lot.

Author Information

Cass Sackett has taught physics at the University of Virginia since 2001. He has been recognized with an All University Teaching Award and as a Mead Endowment Honored Faculty. He pursues research in the field of cold atomic gases, where he is a leader in the use of Bose-Einstein condensates for atom interferometry. He is the author of over fifty articles in both scientific journals and the popular press.

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