Statistical Mechanics: Entropy, Order Parameters and Complexity

by James P. Sethna

In each generation, scientists must redefine their fields: abstracting, simplifying and distilling the previous standard topics to make room for new advances and methods. Sethna's book takes this step for statistical mechanics--a field rooted in physics and chemistry whose ideas and methods are now central to information theory, complexity, and modern biology. Aimed at advanced undergraduates and early graduate students in all of these fields, Sethna limits his main presentation to the topics that future mathematicians and biologists, as well as physicists and chemists, will find fascinating and central to their work. The amazing breadth of the field is reflected in the author's large supply of carefully crafted exercises, each an introduction to a whole field of study: everything from chaos through information theory to life at the end of the universe.

Genres: Physics, Science, Textbooks, Mathematics

349 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2006

Reviews

[Zach Ulibarri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The actual text in this book is pretty great. It's clear and concise, which is a hell of a lot more than I can say for Pathria and Beale. Unfortunately the problems in this book are best described as 'word salad.' Each problem has a million different poorly worded parts that can make life a living hell.

[Eggplant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The questions are really interesting. I may not use this book as a beginner nor as a theoretical physics student, but it'll be helpful if I want to know how statistical mechanics works in other board fields. The free pdf file can be downloaded and it's colored.

[Michiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference to statistical mechanics. I particularly liked the exercises linking the physics to other fields such as molecular biology and materials science.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful assortment of topics and a friendly, engaging style don't quite make up for informal & too-brisk discussions of important ideas.