01764  n a2200181   4500001000600000003000600006005001700012008004300029020001800072040003100090100002200121245006400143336002600207337002800233338002700261520127800288650001601566u7264SIRSI20251112200004.0|a250723t2009    us a    r      01|0 eng d  a9781577666127  aclrauohbengcclrauoherda  aReif, R.eauthor.10aFundamentals of statistical and thermal physics /cR. Reif.  atextbtxt2rdacontent  aunmediatedbn2rdamedia  avolumebnc2rdacarrier  aAll macroscopic systems consist ultimately of atoms obeying the laws of quantum mechanics. That premise forms the basis for this comprehensive text, intended for a first upper-level course in statistical and thermal physics. Reif emphasizes that the combination of microscopic concepts with some statistical postulates leads readily to conclusions on a purely macroscopic level. The author s writing style and penchant for description energize interest in condensed matter physics as well as provide a conceptual grounding with information that is crystal clear and memorable. Reif first introduces basic probability concepts and statistical methods used throughout all of physics. Statistical ideas are then applied to systems of particles in equilibrium to enhance an understanding of the basic notions of statistical mechanics, from which derive the purely macroscopic general statements of thermodynamics. Next, he turns to the more complicated equilibrium situations, such as phase transformations and quantum gases, before discussing nonequilibrium situations in which he treats transport theory and dilute gases at varying levels of sophistication. In the last chapter, he addresses some general questions involving irreversible processes and fluctuations.2Editors.  aStatistics.