Elementary Statistical Physics (Dover Books on Physics)

Book Details

• Publisher: Dover

• Author: Charles Kittel

• Language: English

• Edition: Dover Ed

• ISBN: 9780486435145

• Pages: 240

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches

About The Book

Statistical Mechanics, by Charles Kittel, is widely recognized for its philosophical depth and elegant approach to problem-solving, making it an invaluable resource for graduate students in physics. This Dover edition presents a comprehensive overview of the subject and demonstrates its broad applications across fields such as astrophysics, biology, chemistry, nuclear physics, solid-state physics, communications engineering, metallurgy, and mathematics.

At the heart of the text is the method of ensembles, developed by J. Willard Gibbs, which the author uses to explain the fundamental principles of statistical mechanics. Key topics covered include stochastic processes, transport theory, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions, fluctuations, thermal noise, and Brownian motion. The book also touches on the thermodynamics of irreversible processes, negative temperature, magnetic energy, density matrix methods, and the Kramers-Kronig causality relations.

The textbook is enriched with 28 figures and a table to enhance understanding, and each section is accompanied by illustrative problems to reinforce learning. Designed for graduate students, this text provides a working knowledge of statistical mechanics, equipping readers with the theoretical tools to apply the principles across a variety of scientific fields.