Science

Statistical Physics of Crystals and Liquids

Author: Duane C Wallace

Publisher: World Scientific

ISBN: 9789814487801

Category: Science

Page: 328

View: 824

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This important book presents a unified formulation from first principles of the Hamiltonian and statistical mechanics of metallic and insulating crystals, amorphous solids, and liquids. Extensive comparison of theory and experiment provides an accurate understanding of the statistical properties of phonons, electrons, and phonon–phonon and electron–phonon interactions in elemental crystals and liquids. Questions are posed along the following lines: What is the “best” theory for a given property? How accurate is a good theory? What information is gained by a comparison of theory and experiment? How accurate is a good experiment? Contents:Condensed Matter HamiltonianStatistical MechanicsLattice DynamicsStatistical Mechanics of CrystalsLiquid Dynamics and Statistical MechanicsPhase Transitions and Nonequilibrium Processes Readership: Researchers, academics and graduate students in condensed matter physics. Keywords:Condensed Matter Hamiltonian;Statistical Mechanics;Lattice Dynamics;Crystals;Liquid Dynamics;Phase Transitions;Metastable StatesReviews:“This is a valuable and clearly written book in an important area of condensed matter theory. There is extensive contact between theoretical predictions and experiments. For both students and young research workers there are useful collections of problems which lead to further insight into the area covered. Quantitative equations of state are given prominence.”Norman H March Oxford University “This is an authoritative account of the physics and thermodynamics behind an understanding of the equation of state. It concentrates on elements and the use of pseudopotential perturbation theory for the simple metals provides insight and a basis for computer simulations. The account combines careful theoretical analyses, and Local-Density-Theory results, with interpretation of the best experimental data available and may be unique in incorporating the liquid, as well as the crystalline state. The very complete set of problems included would make it very appropriate as the text for a general course on the equation of state.”Walt Harrison Stanford University “Whatever the author does, he does it first class. His book is something we use to gauge excellence in the field, and I have no doubt that this one will be no exception. But this book is different from other books he wrote. It is more personal in that he has not hesitated to express his personal views strongly, but in a scholarly fashion.”Y Horie Los Alamos National Laboratory “This is a book of condensed matter physics that gives equal emphasis to solids and liquids. The author focuses on the equation of state of the simple elements and reviews the methods for passing from the Hamiltonian through statistical mechanics to the equation of state of the solid and liquid and the computation of the melting curve. For the reader who wants an introduction to the capability of modern statistical physics for accurate prediction of thermodynamic functions, this is the book.”David Young Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory “This book, in my mind, represents an extremely powerful resource to any researcher working in condensed matter physics and especially equation of state theory. It is clear from 'Statistical Physics of Crystals and Liquids' that Dr Wallace has a special gift of taking complex physics concepts and explaining them with the greatest of clarity. His ability clearly distinguishes this book from those written by more novice authors … In summary, I believe this book should be highly marketed as I expect that there is a large condensed matter community that would benefit from reading it.”Brad Clements Los Alamos National Laboratory “The three investigated subjects, only fragments of which are covered in other textbooks and research treatises, make this book a very useful one for specialists in statistical mechanics and structure of matter.”Zentralblatt MATH “… the book comprises a brisk overview of solids that reaches timely topics of nonequilibrium processes … its structure lends itself well to being used as an instructional text in either an advanced undergraduate course or a graduate treatment of the subject … The review of statistical mechanics is straightforward to anyone with prior exposure to the subject, and is nearly complete … Wallace has done an excellent job of achieving the goals set out in the introduction of the book in a format that is clean and easy to read with a notation that is not confusing.”MRS Bulletin “This book covers ‘equation of state’ but also atomic dynamics. In these fields it offers a useful summary of methods and results, which prove how successful modern computational methods have become.”Contemporary Physics