A Modern Course in Statistical Physics

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This textbook illustrates the foundations of equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical physics, emphasizing the universal nature of thermodynamic processes through contemporary research problems. It covers diverse topics, including the microscopic theory of critical phenomena, superfluid dynamics, quantum conductance, light scattering, transport processes, and dissipative structures, all framed within statistical physics and thermodynamics. The text highlights the quantum origins of issues in classical statistical physics, focusing on fluctuations arising from the discrete nature of matter—an increasingly important topic in nanometer scale physics and biophysics. Additionally, it addresses classical and quantum phase transitions in both monatomic and mixed particle systems. The fourth edition expands the range of topics to include entropic forces, electrochemical processes in biological systems and batteries, adsorption processes, diamagnetism, Bose-Einstein condensation theory, memory effects in Brownian motion, and hydrodynamics of binary mixtures. Each chapter concludes with exercises and problems, with solutions provided for a subset. The appendices cover Exact Differentials, Ergodicity, Number Representation, Scattering Theory, and a brief course on Probability.