Statistical physics : an introduction. With 71 Figures and 7 Tables

Abstract

1. Thermal equilibrium and the principle of equal probability -- 2. Entropy -- 3. The partition function and the free energy -- 4. Ideal gases -- 5. The heat capacity of a solid, and black-body radiation -- 6. The elasticity of rubber -- 7. Magnetic materials -- 8. First-order phase transitions -- 9. Second-order phase transitions -- 10. Dense gases -- ideal gases at low temperature -- A. Formulas related to the factorial function -- B. The Gaussian distribution function -- C. Lagrange's method of undetermined multipliers -- D. Volume of a hypersphere -- E. Hyperbolic functions -- F. Boundary conditions -- G. The Riemann zeta function