Statistical Mechanics. Norman Davidson

Clear and readable, this fine text assists students in achieving a grasp of the techniques and limitations of statistical mechanics. The treatment follows a logical progression from elementary to advanced theories, with careful attention to detail and mathematical development, and is sufficiently rigorous for introductory or intermediate graduate courses.Beginning with a study of the statistical mechanics of ideal gases and other systems of non-interacting particles, the text develops the theory in detail and applies it to the study of chemical equilibrium and the calculation of the thermodynamic properties of gases from molecular structure data. The second half offers a lucid, logical presentation of the canonical ensemble and of the grand ensemble, which constitute the theoretical bases for modern advanced equilibrium statistical mechanics. Other topics include the applications of both advanced and elementary theory to a number of interesting problems in physical chemistry — radiation phenomena, the solid state, fluctuations and noise problems, the statistical mechanical aspects of light scattering theory, paramagnetism and magnetic cooling, dielectrics, the theory of electrolyte solutions, nonideal gases, distribution functions for dense fluids, and the Ising model for the study of order-disorder transitions in biological macromolecules. Numerous problems enhance the book's value as a classroom text.