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This Primer focusses on the statistical physics of classical and quantum systems. The course text explores the three cornerstones of statistical physics which include the Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein distribution laws. It also provides a highly useful and in-depth investigation of the thermal properties of paradigmatically important systems such as classical ideal gas, electron gas and phonon gas.
The structure of this text is tailored to facilitate the planning of a one-semester course: this volume provides bachelor students with a main teaching tool. More specifically, each part identifies an independent teaching module, while each chapter corresponds to approximately two weeks of lecturing.
Key Features
- Fills a gap for a self-contained undergraduate textbook in statistical physics of condensed matter systems
- Tailored for a one-semester course
- Focuses on a selected set of topics, whilst also providing substantial, in-depth coverage of the subject
- Emphasises phenomenology rather than mathematics/formalism
- Uses various pedagogical features, including chapter outline, proof-of-concept pictures
This is the third and final volume of an excellent primer series. The present one, devoted to the statistical physics of condensed matter systems, has the same approach and the same qualities as the first two primers. It is precisely the breadth of topics that form the statistical mechanics of condensed matter that dictates the primer structure adopted by Luciano Colombo. Each chapter opens with a brief syllabus where the fundamental concepts and logical sequence of the topics covered are set forth. These are then expounded making use of mathematics only where it is fundamental and necessary, while the more technical parts are entrusted to the numerous (as many as eight) appendices.
Giorgio Benedek, Il Nuovo Saggiatore, June 2023
I Classical statistical physics
1 The statistical description of a classical system
2 Thermal properties of classical gases
II Quantum statistical physics
3 The statistical description of a quantum system
4 Thermal properties of quantum gases
5 Other quantum systems and phenomena
III Concluding remarks
6 What is missing in this “Primer”
IV Appendices
A Mathematical tools
B Gibbs entropy
C Thermodynamic potentials
D Calculating the grand partition function of a real gas
E Fermi-Dirac distribution law: a phenomenological derivation
F The conceptual framework for solid-state physics
G Bose-Einstein distribution law: a phenomenological derivation
H Density of states of the blackbody radiation