Methods of Statistical Physics

This graduate-level textbook on thermal physics covers classical thermodynamics, statistical mechanics and its applications. It describes theoretical methods to calculate thermodynamic properties, such as the equation of state, specific heat, Helmholtz free energy, magnetic susceptibility and phase transitions of macroscopic systems. In addition to the more standard material covered, this book also describes powerful techniques, which are not found elsewhere, to determine the correlation effects on which the thermodynamic properties are based. Particular emphasis is given to the cluster variation method and a novel formulation is developed for its expression in terms of correlation functions. Although a basic knowledge of quantum mechanics is required, the mathematical formulations are accessible and entirely self-contained. The book will therefore constitute an ideal companion text for graduate students studying courses on the theory of complex analysis, classical mechanics, classical electrodynamics, and quantum mechanics.

• Was the first book to describe powerful techniques for determining the correlation effects on which thermodynamic properties are based
• Presents novel formulations for the cluster variation method and its expression in terms of correlation functions
• Entirely self-contained, with all essential mathematical formulations included