Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics [Hardcover]

Robert Zwanzig (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195140184 | ISBN-13: 978-0195140187 | Publication Date: April 19, 2001 | Edition: 1

This is a presentation of the main ideas and methods of modern nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. It is the perfect introduction for anyone in chemistry or physics who needs an update or background in this time-dependent field. Topics covered include fluctuation-dissipation theorem; linear response theory; time correlation functions, and projection operators. Theoretical models are illustrated by real-world examples and numerous applications such as chemical reaction rates and spectral line shapes are covered. The mathematical treatments are detailed and easily understandable and the appendices include useful mathematical methods like the Laplace transforms, Gaussian random variables and phenomenological transport equations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Zwanzig is at National Institutes of Health.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (April 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195140184
• ISBN-13: 978-0195140187
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #843,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent non-equilibrium stat/mech for dummies, July 1, 2003

By 

"hello_123" (La Jolla, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics (Hardcover)

This book is not an ideal dictionary of stat/mech as "A modern course in Stat/Phys" by Reichl. Albeit noticeable typos,
as long as the reader does all the hard work and derives eqns step by step, he/she can easily correct the typos without missing any important information.

The reason I liked this book over others is because of its clear
and crisp content to underpin the essential "physics" of each equation by simple words. Moreover, the connections between
each section and chapter are arranged in a logical way as you can see that Bob has indeed distilled a thorough understanding
of nonequilibrium stat/mech into a delicious, thin book for which every student who uses stat/mech for research should read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A great start but far too many typos/too little defn's, June 4, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics (Hardcover)

Zwanzig shows great mastery of the material and his explanations are great. They help explain the material well.

But the big problem here is that there are just so many typos. When you want to follow complicated arguments, it can take forever to figure out what he means precisely/mathematically.

Also, there is not the slightest attempt to keep units correct or fix a representation, so one finds inner products between objects that don't really make sense. They are never formally defined.

It's a great book to get the ideas from and some simple derivations. I'm still working my way through parts of it. But unless you have a complementary book to guide you, especially through Ch. 8, or you are already familiar with the material, you may get lost...I would suggest Berne/Pacora Ch. 11 for help in Ch. 8

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the shortest cut, indeed, September 5, 2001

By 

Akira Kinjo (Kobe, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book by Zwanzig. It treats many standard subjects starting from Langevin eq., Fokker Planck eq., to projection operators and mode-coupling theories, etc. Most of the examples demonstrated are elementary, but some of them (heat bath, dipole moments, etc) are treated several times in different chapters with different techniques so that the reader can understand more deeply how these techniques are interconnected. Really enlightening!