Fluctuations in Physical Systems

This book provides an introduction to applied statistical mechanics by considering physically realistic models.

Hans L. Pécseli (Author)

9780521655927, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 10 August 2000

202 pages, 41 b/w illus. 73 exercises
24.4 x 17 x 1.1 cm, 0.33 kg

This book provides an introduction to applied statistical mechanics by considering physically realistic models. It provides a simple and accessible introduction to theories of thermal fluctuations and diffusion, and goes on to apply them in a variety of physical contexts. The first part of the book is devoted to processes in thermal equilibrium, and considers linear systems. Ideas central to the subject, such as the fluctuation dissipation theorem, Fokker–Planck equations and the Kramers–Kroenig relations are introduced during the course of the exposition. The scope is then expanded to include non-equilibrium systems and also illustrates simple nonlinear systems. This book will be of interest to final year undergraduate and graduate students studying statistical mechanics, plasma physics, basic electronics, solid state physics and anyone who wants an accessible introduction to the subject.

1. Introduction
2. Elements of statistical analysis
3. Fluctuations in electric circuits
4. The fluctuation-dissipation theorem
5. The Kramers–Kronig relation
6. Brownian motion
7. Random walk
8. Density fluctuations in gases
9. A reference model
10. Markov processes
11. Diffusion of particles
12. Thermal fluctuations in a diode
13. Fermi-acceleration
Appendix A. The binomial distribution
Appendix B. The Poisson distribution
Appendix C. The gaussian distribution
Appendix D. Dirac's d-function
Appendix E. Physical constants
Appendix F. The MKSA-units.

Subject Areas: Physics [PH]