Fundamental Problems In Statistical Mechanics Vi

Fundamental Problems in Statistical Mechanics VI

Statistical Physics of Fluids

This book grew out of the senior level lecture course I teach at Delft Univer sity and which I have taught in recent years at Eindhoven University and the University of Utrecht. Numerous discussions with students and colleagues led me to the conclusion that in spite of the existence of excellent books on the statistical theory of fluids, there is a gap between the fundamental theory and application of its concepts and techniques to practical problems. This book is an attempt to at least partially fill it. It is not intended to be a thorough and comprehensive review of liquid state theory, which would inevitably require invoking a large number of re sults without actual derivation. Rather I prefer to focus on the main physical ideas and mathematical methods of fluid theory, starting with the basic prin ciples of statistical mechanics, and present a detailed derivation of results accompanied by an explanation of their physical meaning. The same ap proach applies to several specialized topics of the liquid state, most of which are recent developments and belong to the areas of my own activities and thus reflect my personal taste. Wherever possible, theoretical predictions are compared with available experimental and simulation data.

Foundations of Statistical Mechanics

International Series of Monographs in Natural Philosophy, Volume 22: Foundations of Statistical Mechanics: A Deductive Treatment presents the main approaches to the basic problems of statistical mechanics. This book examines the theory that provides explicit recognition to the limitations on one's powers of observation. Organized into six chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the main physical assumptions and their idealization in the form of postulates. This text then examines the consequences of these postulates that culminate in a derivation of the fundamental formula for calculating probabilities in terms of dynamic quantities. Other chapters provide a careful analysis of the significant notion of entropy, which shows the links between thermodynamics and statistical mechanics and also between communication theory and statistical mechanics. The final chapter deals with the thermodynamic concept of entropy. This book is intended to be suitable for students of theoretical physics. Probability theorists, statisticians, and philosophers will also find this book useful.