From Microphysics to Macrophysics


Book Description

This popular, often cited text returns in a softcover edition to provide a thorough introduction to statistical physics and thermodynamics, and to exhibit the universality of the chain of ideas leading from the laws of microphysics to the macroscopic behaviour of matter. A wide range of applications illustrates the concepts, and many exercises reinforce understanding. Volume I discusses the probabilistic description of quantum or classical systems, the Boltzmann-Gibbs distributions, the conservation laws, and the interpretation of entropy as missing information. Thermodynamics and electromagnetism in matter are dealt with, as well as applications to dilute and condensed gases, and to phase transitions.




From Microphysics to Macrophysics


Book Description

This popular, often cited text returns in a softcover edition to provide a thorough introduction to statistical physics and thermodynamics, and to exhibit the universal chain of ideas leading from the laws of microphysics to the macroscopic behaviour of matter. A wide range of applications illustrates the concepts, and many exercises reinforce understanding. Volume II applies statistical methods to systems governed by quantum effects, in particular to solid state physics, explaining properties due to the crystal structure or to the lattice excitations or to the electrons. The last chapters are devoted to non-equilibrium processes and to kinetic equations, with many applications included.




From Microphysics to Macrophysics


Book Description

This text not only provides a thorough introduction to statistical physics and thermodynamics but also exhibits the universality of the chain of ideas that leads from the laws of microphysics to the macroscopic behaviour of matter. A wide range of applications teaches students how to make use of the concepts, and many exercises will help to deepen their understanding. Drawing on both quantum mechanics and classical physics, the book follows modern research in statistical physics. Volume I discusses in detail the probabilistic description of quantum or classical systems, the Boltzmann-Gibbs distributions, the conservation laws, and the interpretation of entropy as missing information. Thermodynamics and electromagnetism in matter are dealt with, as well as applications to gases, both dilute and condensed, and to phase transitions. Volume II applies statistical methods to systems governed by quantum effects, in particular to solid state physics, explaining properties due to the crystal structure or to the lattice excitations or to the electrons. Liquid helium is discussed and radiative equilibrium and transport are studied. The last chapters are devoted to non-equilibrium processes and to kinetic equations, with many applications included. This softcover edition accomodates the many requests to make this widely used and often cited classical text available again.
















Physics and Chemistry of Clouds


Book Description

Clouds affect our daily weather and play key roles in the global climate. Through their ability to precipitate, clouds provide virtually all of the fresh water on Earth and are a crucial link in the hydrologic cycle. With ever-increasing importance being placed on quantifiable predictions - from forecasting the local weather to anticipating climate change - we must understand how clouds operate in the real atmosphere, where interactions with natural and anthropogenic pollutants are common. This textbook provides students - whether seasoned or new to the atmospheric sciences - with a quantitative yet approachable path to learning the inner workings of clouds. Developed over many years of the authors' teaching at Pennsylvania State University, Physics and Chemistry of Clouds is an invaluable textbook for advanced students in atmospheric science, meteorology, environmental sciences/engineering and atmospheric chemistry. It is also a very useful reference text for researchers and professionals.




Information, Physics, and Computation


Book Description

A very active field of research is emerging at the frontier of statistical physics, theoretical computer science/discrete mathematics, and coding/information theory. This book sets up a common language and pool of concepts, accessible to students and researchers from each of these fields.




On Three Levels


Book Description

This volume contains the proceedings of a five-day NATO Advanced Research Workshop "On Three Levels, the mathematical physics of micro-, meso-, and macro phenomena," conducted from July 19 to 23 in Leuven, Belgium. The main purpose of the workshop was to bring together and to confront where relevant, classical and quantum approaches in the rigorous study of the relation between the various levels of physical description. The reader will find here discussions on a variety of topics involving a broad range of scales. For the micro-level, contributions are presented on models of reaction-diffusion pro cesses, quantum groups and quantum spin systems. The reports on quantum disorder, the quantum Hall effect, semi-classical approaches of wave mechanics and the random Schrodinger equation can be situated on the meso-level. Discussions on macroscopic quantum effects and large scale fluctuations are dealing with the macroscopic level of description. These three levels are however not independent and emphasis is put on relating these scales of description. This is especially the case for the contributions on kinetic and hydrodynamicallimits, the discussions on large deviations and the strong and weak coupling limits. The advisory board was composed of J.L. Lebowitz, J.T. Lewis and E.H. Lieb. The organizing committee was formed by Ph.A. Martin, G.L. Sewell, E.R. Speer and A.