- James P. Sethna, Statistical Mechanics: Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity, Oxford University Press
Available from online retailers (~$50). A pdf version of the first printing is available from
Book webpage http://pages.physics.cornell.edu/sethna/StatMech/
Authors webpage http://www.lassp.cornell.edu/sethna/
This book will also be useful for the second part of the course, PH 642 Statistical Thermophysics, offered in Fall 2013.
You need a basic reference for thermodynamics. Usually the textbook of your undergraduate Thermodynamics course will do the job. A few recommendations are
- Daniel V. Schroeder, Thermal Physics. Good, affordable.
- Charles Kittel and Herbert Kroemer, Thermal Physics. Very good, already more advanced, expensive.
- H. B. Callen, Thermodynamics. More advanced thermodynamics.
- F. Reif, Fundamentals of statistical and thermal physics.
Note that my recommendations reflect my personal preference. Kittel/Kroemer is good, but the presentation might not appeal to everyone.
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics notes by Prof. Jansen:
While I will not follow these notes, they are very detailed and immensely useful. The Thermodynamics notes can also be used as a basic reference text.
There is a very large number of textbooks out there and I am only familiar with a few. The book listed here are quite exhaustive in their coverage and go far beyond what can be covered in a two term course. They also serve as reference books.
- Michael Plischke and Birger Bergersen, Equilibrium Statistical Physics.
- Mehran Kardar, Statistical Physics of Particles.
- R. K. Patria and Paul D. Beale, Statistical Mechanics.
- L. E. Reichl, A modern Course in Statistical Physics.
- K. Huang, Statistical Physics.
- Landau and Lifshitz, Statistical Physics, Part 1, Course of Theoretical Physics, Volume 5.