Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Thermodynamics, Fundamentals
First Law of Thermodynamics
Second Law
Variational Statement of Second Law
Application: Thermal Equilibrium and Temperature
Auxiliary Functions and Legendre Transforms
Maxwell Relations
Extensive Functions and the Gibbs-Duhem Equation
Intensive Functions
Chapter 2: Conditions for Equilibrium and Stability
Multiphase Equilibrium
Stability
Application to Phase Equilibria
Plane Interfaces
Chapter 3: Statistical Mechanics
The Statistical Method and Ensembles
Microcanonical Ensemble and the Rational Foundation of Thermodynamics
Canonical Ensemble
A Simple Example
Generalized Ensembles and the Gibbs Entropy Formula
Fluctuations Involving Uncorrelated Particles
Alternative Development of Equilibrium Distribution Functions
Chapter 4: Non-Interacting (Ideal) Systems
Occupation Numbers
Photon Gas
Phonon Gas
Ideal Gases of Real Particles
Electrons in Metals
Classical Ideal Gases, the Classical Limit
Thermodynamics of an Ideal Gas of Structureless Classical Particles
A Dilute Gas of Atoms
A Dilute Gas of Diatomic Molecules
Chemical Equilibria in Gases
Chapter 5: Statistical Mechanical Theory of Phase Transitions
Ising Model
Lattice Gas
Broken Symmetry and Range of Correlations
Mean Field Theory
Variational Treatment of Mean Field Theory
Renormalization Group (RG) Theory
RG Theory for the Two Dimensional Ising Model
Isomorphism Between Two-Level Quantum Mechanical System and the Ising Model
Chapter 6: Monte Carlo Method in Statistical Mechanics
Trajectories
A Monte Carlo Trajectory
Non-Boltzmann Sampling
Quantum Monte Carlo
Chapter 7: Classical Fluids
Averages in Phase Space
Reduced Configurational Distribution Functions
Reversible Work Theorem
Thermodynamic Properties from g(r)
Measurement of g(r) by Diffraction
Solvation and Chemical Equilibrium in Liquids
Molecular Liquids
Monte Carlo for Hard Disks
Chapter 8: Statistical Mechanics of Non-Equilibrium Systems
Systems Close to Equilibrium
Onsager's Regression Hypothesis and Time Correlation Functions
Application: Chemical Kinetics
Another Application: Self Diffusion
Fluctuation Dissipation Theorem
Response Functions
Absorption
Friction and the Langevin Equation

Reviews

"The exposition is very clear, and although elementary, this book is an example of a text which requires a large degree of reader participation. . . . People teaching modern statistical physics will like the book and those who prefer a more traditional approach will be pleasantly surprised to see a new way in which all traditional subjects can be included in a textbook, so it can be a valuable tool in teaching any course of statistical physics."
--Mathematical Reviews
"There is clearly a strong case for any textbook which seeks to provide a continuous thread from tradition to modernity. Chandler's book seems to be the first attempt at such a task....Suitable for undergraduates and first-year graduate students, [it] aims to provide an introduction to modern concepts and techniques in statistical mechanics without presupposing an undue degree of previous exposure to the subject. I strongly suspect that this book will prove
popular with students and teachers alike."--The Times Higher Education Supplement
"Exactly what I was looking for. I will also use this in my graduate course."--Greg H. Zimmerman, Tennessee State University
"An excellent introduction emphasizing major modern topics such as Monte Carlo sampling, renormalization groups. and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem." --American Mathematical Monthly
"The text is clear and spare and addresses the latest developments in statistical mechanics in a manner an undergraduate could readily understand." --New Scientist
"A refreshing, lucid and much-needed textbook in an area which remains inaccessible to many students."--G. P. Matthews, Plymouth Polytechnic, England
"Chandler's book gives an excellent introduction to statistical mechanics, and is highly recommended to any student majoring in physics or chemistry." --SIAM Review
"The book is highly recommended for the excellent discussions that it contains." --American Scientist
"A breezy and enthusiastic guide with quite solid content. All in all this is an outstanding job." --Physics Today
"This is a book which pleases in many ways. The author's style is engaging, the questions sprinkled throughout the whole book are both entertaining and interesting." --Education in Chemistry