Statistical PhysicsStatistical physics is not a difficult subject, and I trust that this will not be found a difficult book. It contains much that a number of generations of Lancaster students have studied with me, as part of their physics honours degree work. The lecture course was of twenty hours duration, and I have added comparatively little to the lecture syllabus. A pre requisite is that the reader should have a working knowledge of basic thermal physics (i.e. the laws of thermodynamics and their application to simple substances). The book Thermal Physics by Colin Finn in this series forms an ideal introduc tion. Statistical physics has a thousand and one different ways of approaching the same basic results. I have chosen a rather down-to-earth and unsophisticated approach, without I hope totally obscuring the considerable interest of the fun damentals. This enables applications to be introduced at an early stage in the book. As a low-temperature physicist, I have always found a particular interest in statistical physics, and especially in how the absolute zero is approached. I should not, therefore, apologize for the low-temperature bias in the topics which I have selected from the many possibilities. |
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Appendix applied field assembly atoms average Boltzmann distribution Boltzmann factor bosons calculate Chapter classical consider constant contribution curve defined definition density derivation diatomic discussed disorder dispersion relation distribution numbers electrons energy ɛ energy levels ensemble entropy equilibrium distribution evaluated example factor FD statistics Fermi energy fermions ferromagnetic free energy gas particles gases gives heat capacity helium Hence high temperatures ideal gas identical integral internal energy isotopes k-space large numbers lattice limit localized particles low temperatures magnetic field MB gas MB statistics microstates molecule monatomic N₁ NkBT number of microstates number of particles obtained one-particle order parameter oscillators paramagnetic partition function phase transition photon problem quantum radiation result room temperature rotation simple solid specific spin statistical physics Stirling's approximation superfluid term thermal equilibrium thermal properties thermodynamic tion vacancies vibration wavefunction weakly interacting zero