Statistical Mechanics: Lecture notes forms the basis for a one-semester course on thermodynamics and statistical mechanics with large attention given to fluctuations of various physical variables. To help develop the students toolkit, a brief introduction to physics kinetics is also included.

Essential Advanced Physics is a series comprising four parts: Classical Mechanics, Classical Electrodynamics, Quantum Mechanics and Statistical Mechanics. Each part consists of two volumes, Lecture notes and Problems with solutions, further supplemented by an additional collection of test problems and solutions available to qualifying university instructors. This volume is intended to be the basis for a one-semester course on thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. The structure of the course is mostly traditional though, due to the current interest in nanoscale systems and ultrasensitive physical measurements, large attention is given to classical and quantum fluctuations of various physical variables. A brief introduction to physics kinetics is also included.

Preface to the Series

Preface

Notation

1. Review of Thermodynamics

2. Principles of Physical Statistics

3. Ideal and Not-So-Ideal Gases

4. Phase Transitions

5. Fluctuations

6. Elements of Kinetics

A. Selected Mathematical Formulas

B. Selected Physical Constants