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Readings

A sessionwise schedule of readings is provided in the table below.

Textbook

Hill, Terrill L. An Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics. Dover, 1986. ISBN: 0486652424.


Other Resources

Knox, J. H. Molecular Thermodynamics. Wiley-Interscience, 1971. ISBN: 0471495905.

Andrews, F. C. Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics. Wiley, 1975. ISBN: 0471031232.

Silbey, R., and R. Alberty. Physical Chemistry. Wiley, 2001. ISBN: 0471383112.

McQuarrie, D., and J. Simon. Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach. University Science, 1997. ISBN: 0935702997.

Smith, N. O. Elementary Statistical Thermodynamics. Plenum, 1982. ISBN: 0306412055.

Widom, B. Statistical Mechanics: A Concise Introduction for Chemists. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN: 0521811198.

Reif, F. Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics. McGraw-Hill, 1965. ISBN: 0070518009.

Sachs, M. Solid State Theory. McGraw-Hill, 1963.

Bube, R. Electrons in Solids. Academic, 1992. ISBN: 0121385531.

Ibach, H., and H. Lüth. Solid State Physics. Springer-Verlag, 1993. ISBN: 354043870X.

Ashcroft, N. W., and N. D. Mermin. Solid State Physics. Saunders College, 1976. ISBN: 0030839939.

Kauzmann, W. Kinetic Theory of Gases. Benjamin, 1966.

Steinfeld, J. I., J. S. Francisco, and W. L. Hase. Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics. Prentice Hall, 1998. ISBN: 0137371233.  

Kittel, C. Introduction to Solid State Physics. Wiley, 1986. ISBN: 0471874744.

Readings Text Legend

H = Hill,
K = Knox,
A = Andrews,
S&A = Silbey and Alberty,
S = Sachs,
I&L = Ibach and Luth,
A&M = Ashcroft and Mermin,
SF&H = Steinfeld, Francisco, and Hase

SES # TOPICS READINGS

1

Assemblies, Ensembles, and the Ergodic Hypothesis K: 3-12
A: 3-14, 30-37
H: 1-6
2 E, A, and S: Macroscopic Properties from Microscopic Probabilities {Pi} K: 48-65
A: 8-12
H: 6-20
3 Canonical Partition Function: Replace {Pi} by Q K: 56-58
A: 54-59, 73-76
H: 12-13, 18-20
4 Microcanonical Ensemble A: 37-43, 44-53
H: 26-29, 33-38
5 Molecular Partition Function: Replace E assembly by E molecule K: 70-73
A: 81-92
H: 59-68
6 Q Corrected for Molecular Indistinguishability A: 88-92
H: 68-70
7 Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein Statistics K: 73-82
A: 93-97
H: 74-77
8 Translational Part of Boltzmann Partition Function A: 81-92
H: 59-72
9 Macroscopic Quantities from qtrans K: 82-86
A: 97-102
H: 77-81
10 Quantum vs. Classical qtrans
Equipartition
Internal Degrees of Freedom
K: 95-99, 137-138
A: 97-102
H: 82-85, 112-115
11 Internal Degrees of Freedom for Atoms and Diatomic Molecules K: 99-108, 122-128, 133-134
A: 103-118
H: 147-159
12 Rotational Partition Function
Equipartition
K: 99-122, 139-142, 180-182
A: 106-111, 119-123
H: 153-159
13 Nuclear Spin Statistics: Symmetry Number, Sigma K: 156-162
A: 123-124
H: 466-472
14 Polyatomic Molecules K: 99-132
A: 103-119
H: 151-159
15 Polyatomic Molecules (cont.)
Exam Review
K: 108-122, 128-132
A: 119-123
H: 161-172
16 Chemical Equilibrium I K: 198-214
A: 127-139, 201-203
H: 177-187
17 Chemical Equilibrium II
Examples
K: 205-214
A: 138-139
H: 182-187
18 Model Intermolecular Potentials A: 209-215, 225-231
H: 261-274
19 Configurational Integral: Cluster Expansion A: 216-219
H: 261-274
20 Virial Equation of State A: 216-219
H: 261-274, 286-296
21 Thermodynamics of Solids K: 144-149
A: 145-149
H: 87-98
22 Einstein -> Debye Solids K: 144-149
A: 149-155
H: 98-105
S: 53-71
23 Phonons: 1-D Linear Chain of Atoms K: 144-149
A: 149-155
H: 98-105
S: 53-71
24 Free Electron Theory of a Metal K: 144-149
A: 149-155
H: 98-105
S: 53-71
25 Heat Capacity in Metals: Fermi Energy H: 441-444
I&L: 85-97
26 Semiconductors I&L: 297-308
Kittel: 181-211
27 Crystal Phase Equilibria and Critical Phenomena H: 246-253, 255-258, 286-289
28 Kinetic Theory of Gases: Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution K: 184-192
A: 181-193, 22-25
H: 120-121
S&A: 629-639
29 Kinetic Theory of Gases: Collisions with Walls, Ideal Gas Law, Effusion K: 192-196
A: 194-203
S&A: 639-649
30 Kinetic Theory of Gases: Collisions Between Molecules, Scattering, Mean Free Path K: 216-226
H: 189-198
S&A: 704-715, 687-689
31 Kinetic Theory of Gases: Mean Free Path and Transport S&A: 649-653, 710-720
32 Kinetic Theory of Gases: Transport Coefficients S&A: 649-653
33 Chemical Reaction Rates I
Kinetic Theory
SF&H: 217-231
K: 226-244
S&A: 715-722
34 Chemical Reaction Rates II
Transition State Theory
SF&H: 287-310
K: 226-244
S&A: 715-722
35 Rice, Ramsperger, Kassel, and Marcus Unimolecular Reaction Rate Theory SF&H: 342-367
36 Classical Trajectories and Reaction Rates and/or Surprisal Analysis (Nonequilibrium SM) K: 226-244
S&A: 715-722
37 Statistical Mechanics for Photons: How Statistical Mechanics Begat Quantum Mechanics H: 458-456
A: 162-167