Statistical Mechanics Eisner

This book provides a gentle introduction to equilibrium statistical mechanics. The particular aim is to fill the needs of readers who wish to learn the subject without a solid background in classical and quantum mechanics. The approach is unique in that classical mechanical formulation takes center stage. The book will be of particular interest to advanced undergraduate and graduate students in engineering departments.

The last decade has been marked by a rapid growth in statistical mechanics, especially in connection with the physics and chemistry of the fluid state. Our understanding in these areas has been considerably advanced and enriched by the discovery of new techniques and the sharpening of old techniques, ranging all the way from computer simulation to mode-mode coupling theories. Statistical mechanics brings together under one roof a broad spectrum of mathematical techniques. The aim of these volumes is to provide a didactic treatment of those techniques that are most useful for the study of problems of current interest to theoretical chemists. The emphasis throughout is on the techniques themselves and not on reviewing the enormous literature in statistical mechanics. Each author was charged with the following task. Given N pages, (a) pose the problem, (b) present those aspects of the particular technique that clearly illustrate its internal workings, © apply the technique to the solution of several illustrative examples, and (d) write the chapter so that it will enable the reader to approach key citations to the literature intelligently. These volumes are designed for graduate students and research workers in statistical mechanics. Nevertheless, because of the range of techniques and their general utility, they should be useful in other areas as well.

In this book we describe the elementary theory of operator algebras and parts of the advanced theory which are of relevance, or potentially of relevance, to mathematical physics. Subsequently we describe various applications to quantum statistical mechanics. At the outset of this project we intended to cover this material in one volume but in the course of develop­ ment it was realized that this would entail the omission of various interesting topics or details. Consequently the book was split into two volumes, the first devoted to the general theory of operator algebras and the second to the applications. This splitting into theory and applications is conventional but somewhat arbitrary. In the last 15-20 years mathematical physicists have realized the importance of operator algebras and their states and automorphisms for problems offield theory and statistical mechanics. But the theory of 20 years ago was largely developed for the analysis of group representations and it was inadequate for many physical applications. Thus after a short honey­ moon period in which the new found tools of the extant theory were applied to the most amenable problems a longer and more interesting period ensued in which mathematical physicists were forced to redevelop the theory in relevant directions. New concepts were introduced, e. g. asymptotic abelian­ ness and KMS states, new techniques applied, e. g. the Choquet theory of barycentric decomposition for states, and new structural results obtained, e. g. the existence of a continuum of nonisomorphic type-three factors.

In this book we describe the elementary theory of operator algebras and parts of the advanced theory which are of relevance, or potentially of relevance, to mathematical physics. Subsequently we describe various applications to quantum statistical mechanics. At the outset of this project we intended to cover this material in one volume but in the course of develop­ ment it was realized that this would entail the omission of various interesting topics or details. Consequently the book was split into two volumes, the first devoted to the general theory of operator algebras and the second to the applications. This splitting into theory and applications is conventional but somewhat arbitrary. In the last 15-20 years mathematical physicists have realized the importance of operator algebras and their states and automorphisms for problems offield theory and statistical mechanics. But the theory of 20 years ago was largely developed for the analysis of group representations and it was inadequate for many physical applications. Thus after a short honey­ moon period in which the new found tools of the extant theory were applied to the most amenable problems a longer and more interesting period ensued in which mathematical physicists were forced to redevelop the theory in relevant directions. New concepts were introduced, e. g. asymptotic abelian­ ness and KMS states, new techniques applied, e. g. the Choquet theory of barycentric decomposition for states, and new structural results obtained, e. g. the existence of a continuum of nonisomorphic type-three factors.

This book presents a variety of techniques for tackling phenomena that are not amenable to the conventional approach based on the concept of probabilities. The methods described rely on the use of path integration, thermal Green functions, time-temperature propagators, Liouville operators, second quantization, and field correlators at finite density and temperature. Also exploring the statistical mechanics of unstable quantum systems, the book is intended as a supplementary or reference text for use in one-semester graduate courses on Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, and Mathematical Methods in Physics.

Statistical Mechanics and Statistical Methods in Theory and Applications.
This volume of essays is dedicated to Professor Elliott Waters Montroll on his sixtieth birthday. The outstanding scientific work of Professor Montroll, his record as a teacher, lecturer and director of research, his active role on numerous governmental, academic and industrial advisory boards and panels, his editorial endeavors and the long line of students, collaborators, colleagues and friends are all a testimony to his con- tributions to science and society.

More than a generation of German-speaking students around the world have worked their way to an understanding and appreciation of the power and beauty of modem theoretical physics-with mathematics, the most fundamental of sciences-using WaIter Greiner's textbooks as their guide. The idea of developing a coherent, complete presentation of an entire field of science in a series of closely related textbooks is not a new one.