Statistical Physics: Course of Theoretical Physics, Volume 5 of 9

Second Edition (1969) , Revised and Enlarged. Third Printing Thus (1977) , with corrections. Very Good-: shows mild rubbing and a hint of consequent soiling to the panels; just a tick of wear to the lower front corner tip; the head and heel of the backstrip have been mildly crimped; some smudging and soiling to the outside edges of the text block; the binding is cocked off quare but remains secure; the text is clean. Free of any creased or dog-eared pages in the text. Free of underlining, hi-lighting, notations, or marginalia. Free of any ownership names, dates, addresses, notations, inscriptions, stamps, plates, or labels. A very good working copy, tightly bound, showing moderate wear and the noted imperfections. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. Large 8vo (10 x 6.65 x 1 inches) . Translated from the by J. B. Sykes & M. J. Kearesley. Language: English. Weight: 33.5 ounces. The first English Edition was published in 1958. Hardcover: Laminate Boards. This textbook is hardly to be surpassed by any other treatment of the subject. Originally written in Russian 1937-1939, the treatment provides a bridge between the classics (Maxwell, Boltzmann, Gibbs) and the then new world of quantum mechanics. What really impresses me is its modernity in approaching the subject from the full quantum point of view, using quantum statistics and density matrices from the outset. This is unifying and economic at the same time. Moreover, time and again I have found that many "modern" concerns in equilibrium and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, like, for instance, the issue about the equilibration of quantum many-particle systems, echoes opinions and insights already stated in this textbook. Everytime I pick my copy to take a glance I realize how puny such acclaimed books like L. Reichl's or the new M. Kardar's ones are (despite their many merits). There may be more gentle introductions to statistical mechanics out there (choose one) , but this book makes an ideal secondr reading. This is the book that, together with S. -K. Ma's and K. Huang's books on the same subject, will make you a pro. ; Pergamon International Library of Science, Technology, Engineering and Social Studies; Large 8vo 9" - 10" tall; xii, 484 pages.…