But the simplicity of the logic of thermodynamics sometimes makes us see more clearly into the nature of the basic physics of a given problem from very general principles. Admittedly it does not give intuitive pictures as atomic theories do, which is one of the reasons why students find it difficult to gain sufficient understanding and familiarity to use thermodynamics in real problems.
KUBO 1965 STATISTICAL MECHANICS SOLUTIONS FREE
Instead it deals with relations between somewhat abstract quantities such as energy, entropy, free energy and so forth. It avoids explicit use of physical images or models such as atoms and molecules. Thermodynamics teaches us the value of a phenomenological approach.
However, it must be stressed here that the usefulness and unique significance of thermodynamics as a fundamental science remain as basic today as they were in the latter half of the last century. Even for students in chemistry, the present is different from the time some decades ago when physical chemistry was almost nothing but chemical thermodynamics. Thermodynamics belongs completely to classical physics and is sometimes regarded as unimportant by students of physics who are over-occupied in learning modern physics. Outside the realm of physics, its importance is rapidly penetrating into chemistry, biology and into those vast areas of technology which owe their growth to the advances in modern physics. Fundamental knowledge and training in statistical mechanics are therefore of vital importance not only for students studying the physical properties of matter but also for those who study nuclear physics or even astrophysics. Statistical mechanics, together with quantum mechanics, provides a foundation for modern physics which aims at the thorough understanding of physical phenomena from the microscopic viewpoint of atomic physics. PREFACE TO JAPANESE EDITION Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics are indispensable tools in studying the physics of the properties of matter. Tokuda for the preparation of the manuscript. Worth of International Christian University, Tokyo, who kindly took the trouble of helping us with linguistic difficulties. Masaji Kubo, Toshihiko Tsuneto and Satoru Miyake who did the translation work with the authors, and particularly to Professor Donald C. As the editor of the original Japanese edition and of the English edition, I wish to express my deep appreciation to Drs. The translation was made from the Japanese text by the original authors, together with a few collaborators. The volume on thermodynamics is expected to be published within a year. Considering the more urgent interest of university students in statistical mechanics, this volume has been translated and published first. At the request of the present publi sher, the English edition is being published in two volumes, one on thermodynamics and the other on statistical mechanics. PREFACE TO ENGLISH EDITION The original text of this volume is part of the book "Problems and Solutions in Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics", itself one of the "University Series" published by the Shokabo Publishing Company. 52 Vanderbilt Avenue New York, NY 10017 USA 'North-Holland Personal Library: paperback' Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 67-20003 Printed in The Netherlands Box 103 1000 AC Amsterdam The Netherlands Sole distributors for the USA and Canada: Elsevier Science Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN: 3 9 Paperback First edition (hardbound) 1965 Second edition (hardbound) 1967 Third edition (hardbound) 1971 Fourth edition (hardbound) 1974 Fifth edition (hardbound) 1978 Sixth edition (hardbound) 1981 Seventh edition (paperback) 1988 Published by: North-Holland Physics Publishing a division of Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All other copyright questions, including photocopying outside of the USA, should be referred to the publisher. Information can be obtained from the CCC about conditions under which photocopies of parts of this publication may be made in the USA.
Special regulations for readers in the USA: This publication has been registered with the Copyright Clearance Center Inc. Box 103, 1000 AC Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (North- Holland Physics Publishing Division), P.O. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. STATISTICAL MECHANICS An Advanced Course with Problems and Solutions RYOGO KUBO University of Tokyo in cooperation with HIROSHI ICHIMURA TSUNEMARU USUI NATSUKI HASHITSUME Tokyo Institute of Technology Kyoto University Ochanomizu University NH NORTH-HOLLAND AMSTERDAM Įlsevier Science Publishers B.V., 1965 All rights reserved.