An Introduction to Thermal Physics

Daniel V. Schroeder, Department of Physics, Weber State University

• A balanced treatment of classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Both the macroscopic and microscopic viewpoints have their advantages, so I've tried to present and use both, without giving undue emphasis to either.
• A clear story-line. Fundamentals come first, then thermodynamics applications, then statistical mechanics applications. Each chapter introduces one or two powerful tools and then applies these tools to a variety of phenomena. This organizational plan highlights the most important principles, and gives readers and instructors a great deal of flexibility in choosing what topics to cover.
• Informal writing style. I'd rather talk to you directly than pontificate in the passive voice.
• Minimal prerequisites. Before reading this book you should have taken a calculus-based introductory physics course, not necessarily including thermodynamics. A concurrent course in multivariable calculus is recommended but not absolutely necessary.
• An emphasis on applications. In selecting material I've tried to emphasize what is immediately and obviously applicable to the real world. The book is full of applications to condensed matter physics, astrophysics, chemistry, earth science, engineering, and everyday life. It's not just for physics majors.
• Short enough for a one-semester course. Although the book contains plenty of advanced material for a longer course (especially in the problems), you can cover all the fundamentals and most of the applications in a three-hour, one-semester course.

Part I: Fundamentals

• Chapter 1: Energy in Thermal Physics. An overview of temperature, ideal gases, equipartition, the first law, heat capacities, and transport processes.
• Chapter 2: The Second Law. Fundamental statistical ideas applied to two-state systems and the Einstein solid model; analysis of two interacting Einstein solids, leading to the second law; multiplicity of an ideal gas; statistical definition of entropy.
• Chapter 3: Interactions and Implications. Temperature, pressure, and chemical potential as partial derivatives of the entropy; the relation between entropy and heat; prediction of heat capacities and other thermal properties of a paramagnet, Einstein solid, and ideal gas (all microcanonical).

Part II: Thermodynamics

• Chapter 4: Engines and Refrigerators. Derivation of limits on efficiency from the laws of thermodynamics; Carnot cycle; realistic cycles for internal combustion engines, steam engines, and refrigeration; methods of reaching very low temperatures.
• Chapter 5: Free Energy and Chemical Thermodynamics. Definitions and interpretations of Helmholtz and Gibbs free energies; applications to electrochemistry, phase transformations, mixtures, dilute solutions, and chemical equilibrium.

Part III: Statistical Mechanics

• Chapter 6: Boltzmann Statistics. Boltzmann factors and partition functions, including applications to atomic and molecular excitations, paramagnetism, equipartition theorem, Maxwell distribution, ideal gases.
• Chapter 7: Quantum Statistics. Gibbs factors; Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions; degenerate electron gases; blackbody radiation; Debye theory; Bose-Einstein condensation.
• Chapter 8: Systems of Interacting Particles. Weakly interacting gases treated via diagrammatic perturbation theory, and an introduction to the Ising model emphasizing Monte Carlo simulation.

* * *

• Appendix A: Elements of Quantum Mechanics. A summary of the quantum mechanics that is used in the text, for those who wish for a more systematic treatment.
• Appendix B: Mathematical Results. Gaussian integrals, the gamma function, Stirling's approximation, and other derivations of results used in the text.
• Suggested Reading
• Reference Data
• Index