Thermal physics: concepts and practice

Thermodynamics has benefited from nearly 100 years of parallel development with quantum mechanics. As a result, thermal physics has been considerably enriched in concepts, technique and purpose, and now has a dominant role in the developments of physics, chemistry and biology. This unique book explores the meaning and application of these developments using quantum theory as the starting point. The book links thermal physics and quantum mechanics in a natural way. Concepts are combined with interesting examples, and entire chapters are dedicated to applying the principles to familiar, practical and unusual situations. Together with end-of-chapter exercises, this book gives advanced undergraduate and graduate students a modern perception and appreciation for this remarkable subject.

Thermal Physics: Concepts and Practice -- Tilte -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface -- 1 Introducing thermodynamics -- 1.1 The beginning -- 1.2 Thermodynamic vocabulary -- 1.3 Energy and the First Law -- 1.3.1 Thermodynamic variables defined -- Interaction energy -- 1.4 Quantum mechanics, the"mother of theories'' -- 1.4.1 Introduction -- 1.4.2 A brief review -- 1.5 Probabilities in quantum mechanics -- 1.5.1 Expectation values -- 1.6 Closing comments -- 2 A road to thermodynamics -- 2.1 The density operator: pure states -- 2.1.1 Traces, expectations and information -- 2.2 Mixed states -- 2.2.1 Example -- 2.2.2 Mixed state properties -- 2.2.3 Macroscopic consequences -- 2.2.4 Thermodynamic state functions(?) -- 2.3 Thermal density operator p top and entropy -- 2.3.1 Examples -- Example 2.1 -- Example 2.2 -- Problems and exercises -- 3 Work, heat and the First Law -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.1.1 Work, W -- 3.1.2 Heat, Q -- 3.1.3 Temperature, T -- 3.1.4 Internal energy, U -- 3.2 Exact differentials -- 3.3 Equations of state -- 3.3.1 Examples I -- Quasi-static reversible work -- Irreversible work -- Quasi-static irreversible work -- 3.3.2 Examples II -- A loaded rubber band -- A compress…