Fundamentals and Practice in Statistical Thermodynamics (eBook)

Bridge the gap between thermodynamic theory and engineering practice with this essential textbook

Thermodynamics is a discipline which straddles the fields of chemistry, physics, and engineering, and has long been a mainstay of undergraduate and graduate curricula. Conventional thermodynamics courses, however, often ignore modern developments in statistical mechanics, such as molecular simulation methods, cooperative phenomena, phase transitions, universality, as well as liquid-state and polymer theories, despite their close relevance to both fundamental research and engineering practice. Fundamentals and Practice in Statistical Thermodynamics fills this gap with an essential book that applies up-to-date statistical-mechanical techniques to address the most crucial thermodynamics problems found in chemical and materials systems. It is ideally suited to introduce a new generation of researchers and molecular engineers to modern thermodynamic topics with numerous cutting-edge applications.

 From Fundamentals and Practice in Statistical Thermodynamics readers will also find: 

• An introduction to statistical-mechanical methods including molecular dynamics simulation, Monte Carlo simulation, as well as the molecular theories of phase transitions, classical fluids, electrolyte solutions, polymeric materials, and more
• Illustrative examples and exercise problems with solutions to facilitate student understanding
• Supplementary online materials covering the basics of quantum mechanics, density functional theory, variational principles of classical mechanics, intermolecular interactions, and many more subjects

Fundamentals and Practice in Statistical Thermodynamics is ideal for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in chemical engineering, biomolecular engineering, environmental engineering, materials science and engineering, and all related scientific subfields of physics and chemistry.

Jianzhong Wu, PhD, is a member of the faculty of the Deparmtnet of Chemical and Environmental Engineering and the cooperating/collaborating faculty of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mathematics Department at the University of California, Riverside. He is an elected fellow fo the American Physical Society and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering

John M. Prausnitz, PhD, is a professor of chemical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is also a recipient of the National Medal of Science in recognition of his pioneering work on engineering-oriented molecular thermodynamics.