Series:

In a Nutshell

1 primary work • 2 total works

Book 10

Cover of Statistical Mechanics in a Nutshell
Statistical mechanics is one of the most exciting areas of physics today, and it also has applications to subjects as diverse as economics, social behavior, algorithmic theory, and evolutionary biology. Statistical Mechanics in a Nutshell offers the most concise, self-contained introduction to this rapidly developing field. Requiring only a background in elementary calculus and elementary mechanics, this book starts with the basics, introduces the most important developments in classical statistical mechanics over the last thirty years, and guides readers to the very threshold of today's cutting-edge research. Statistical Mechanics in a Nutshell zeroes in on the most relevant and promising advances in the field, including the theory of phase transitions, generalized Brownian motion and stochastic dynamics, the methods underlying Monte Carlo simulations, complex systems--and much, much more. The essential resource on the subject, this book is the most up-to-date and accessible introduction available for graduate students and advanced undergraduates seeking a succinct primer on the core ideas of statistical mechanics.
* Provides the most concise, self-contained introduction to statistical mechanics * Focuses on the most promising advances, not complicated calculations * Requires only elementary calculus and elementary mechanics * Guides readers from the basics to the threshold of modern research * Highlights the broad scope of applications of statistical mechanics

Cover of Statistical Mechanics in a Nutshell, Second Edition

The essential introduction to modern statistical mechanics—now completely updated and expanded

Statistical mechanics is one of the most exciting areas of physics today and has applications to subjects ranging from economics and social behavior to algorithmic theory and evolutionary biology. Statistical Mechanics in a Nutshell provides a self-contained introduction to this rapidly developing field. Starting with the basics of kinetic theory and requiring only a background in elementary calculus and mechanics, this concise book discusses the most important developments of recent decades and guides readers to the very threshold of today’s cutting-edge research.

  • Features a new chapter on stochastic thermodynamics with an introduction to the thermodynamics of information—the first treatment of its kind in an introductory textbook
  • Offers a more detailed account of numerical simulations, including simulated annealing and other accelerated Monte Carlo methods
  • The chapter on complex systems now features an accessible introduction to the replica theory of spin glasses and the Hopfield theory of neural networks, with an emphasis on applications
  • Provides a new discussion of defect-mediated transitions and their implications for two-dimensional melting
  • An invaluable resource for graduate students and advanced undergraduates seeking a compact primer on the core ideas of statistical mechanics
  • Solutions manual (available only to instructors)