Description
New Age International (P) Ltd The Rotation And Lorentz Groups And Their Representations For Physicists by Rao, K.N. Srinivasa
This book gives a clear and logical exposition of the basic method of ensembles in Statistical Mechanics as developed by J.W. Gibbs. Beginning with the Liouville theorem, a brief but useful introduction to the classical statistical mechanics is provided. Then the quantum picture is outlined and basic postulates of quantum statistical mechanics are stated. The discussion of the symmetry of wave function and its effect on counting is given in detail.
The relation between statistical mechanics and thermodynamics is worked out and the Gibbs paradox is discussed in a lucid way. The concept of entropy is related to the information theory.
Various ensembles are constructed and used to derive the Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributors. Planck’s law is obtained with applications to MASER and LASER. A full chapter is devoted to partition functions.
Detailed presentation is given of the degeneracy of the Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac ideal gases. Topics like liquid He, electrons in metals, and white dwarfs are given adequate coverage.
Quantum Hall effect, random walk and Fourier analysis of a random fluctuation are devoted sufficient space to make it a useful and fascinating book.
The book concludes with a discussion of the Ising model and a modern treatment of the critical phenomena.
Problems at the end of each chapter widen the area covered and also help to deepen the understanding of the material given. This book is written to introduce the subject to advanced undergraduates in physics and chemistry or to graduates in engineering classes.