Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

In a simple and progressive way, this book explains the ideas and techniques of statistical mechanics. Most other books of the same subject tend to be dry and unappealing and undergraduates find themselves confused with the difficult maths presented. This is indeed a tricky subject to explain and techniques doing so are often complicated. However this book starts with the laws of thermodynamics and simple ideas of quantum mechanics and the reader is led through progressively more complex problems with all the mathematical detail explained. This will be a much welcomed book by all physics and chemistry undergradutes studying the subject.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1 The first law of thermodynamics
• 2 Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics
• 3 Probability and statistics
• 4 The ideas of statistical mechanics
• 5 The canonical ensemble
• 6 Identical particles
• 7 Maxwell distribution of molecular speeds
• 8 Planck's distribution
• 9 Systems with variable numbers of particles
• 10 Fermi and Bose particles
• 11 Phase transitions
• 12 Continuous phase transitions
• 13 Ginzburg-Landau theory
• A Thermodynamics in a magnetic field
• B Useful integrals
• C The quantum treatment of a diatomic molecule
• D Travelling waves
• E Partial differentials and thermodynamics
• F Van der Waals equation
• G Answers to problems
• H Physical constants
• Bibliography
• Index

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Bowley and Sanchez write for upper-division undergraduates studying physics. Prior knowledge of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics is assumed by the authors, although the first two chapters of the book offer a brief review of the former. Students comfortable with the concepts covered in a traditional thermodynamics course may find that these chapters provide more insight into the subject because of the author's original approach. The third chapter offers a concise discussion of the ideas of probability and statistics, necessary for the development of ideas of statistical mechanics and an area where many students will find their background deficient. The introduction to statistical mechanics begins in the fourth chapter and in this and following chapters the concepts of the subject are covered. Although the authors explain the concepts clearly, the text could perhaps benefit from better organization of ideas. The reviewer finds a book such as F. Reif's Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics (1965) easier to follow, although it should be noted that this book does have a broader scope than that of the book under review. A positive aspect of Bowley and Sanchez's book is the end-of-chapter problems. They offer varied levels of difficulty, and short solutions are available in an appendix. A solid book, useful as a resource. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. L. M. Lawson Providence College

Author notes provided by Syndetics

RogerBowleyProfessor, Department of PhysicsUniversity of Nottingham.