Statistical Thermodynamics
Fundamentals and Applications

This 2006 textbook discusses the fundamentals and applications of statistical thermodynamics for beginning graduate students in engineering and the physical sciences.

Normand M. Laurendeau (Author)

9780521846356, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 November 2005

466 pages, 96 b/w illus. 64 tables 117 exercises
25.4 x 17.8 x 2.5 cm, 1.07 kg

'… presents a general and complete overview of statistical thermodynamics mainly for beginners or engineers, linking this science to quantum mechanics and to classical thermodynamics … Throughout the whole book, the author presents many figures which illustrate the concepts he introduces. He draws the computations with precise details and illustrates these computations with their physical background.' Alain Brillard, Zentralblatt MATH

This 2006 textbook discusses the fundamentals and applications of statistical thermodynamics for beginning graduate students in the physical and engineering sciences. Building on the prototypical Maxwell–Boltzmann method and maintaining a step-by-step development of the subject, this book assumes the reader has no previous exposure to statistics, quantum mechanics or spectroscopy. The book begins with the essentials of statistical thermodynamics, pauses to recover needed knowledge from quantum mechanics and spectroscopy, and then moves on to applications involving ideal gases, the solid state and radiation. A full introduction to kinetic theory is provided, including its applications to transport phenomena and chemical kinetics. A highlight of the textbook is its discussion of modern applications, such as laser-based diagnostics. The book concludes with a thorough presentation of the ensemble method, featuring its use for real gases. Numerous examples and prompted homework problems enrich the text.

Preface
1. Introduction
Part I. Fundamentals of Statistical Thermodynamics: 2. Probability and statistics
Problem set I. Probability theory and statistical mathematics
3. The statistics of independent particles
4. Thermodynamics properties in the dilute limit
Problem set II. Statistical modeling for thermodynamics
Part II. Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy: 5. Basics of quantum mechanics
6. Quantum analysis of internal energy modes
7. The spectroscopy of diatomic molecules
Problem set III. Quantum mechanics and spectroscopy
Part III. Statistical Thermodynamics in the Dilute Limit: 8. Interlude: from particle to assembly
9. Thermodynamic properties of the ideal gas
Problem set IV. Thermodynamic properties of the ideal gas
10. Statistical thermodynamics for ideal gas mixtures
11. Concentration and temperature measurements
Problem set V. Chemical equilibrium and diagnostics
Part IV. Statistical Thermodynamics beyond the Dilute Limit: 12. Thermodynamics and information
13. Elements of the solid state
14. Equilibrium radiation
Problem set VI. The solid state and radiation
Part V. Non-Equilibrium Statistical Thermodynamics: 15. Elementary kinetic theory
16. Kinetics of molecular transport
17. Chemical kinetics
Problem set VII. Kinetic theory and molecular transport
Part VI. The Ensemble Method of Statistical Thermodynamics: 18. The canonical and grand canonical ensembles
19. Applications of ensemble theory to real gases
Problem set VIII. Ensemble theory and the non-ideal gas
20. Whence and whither
Part VII. Appendices
Index.

Subject Areas: Mechanics of fluids [TGMF], Engineering thermodynamics [TGMB], Mechanical engineering [TGB]