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The book
Authors
Oxford
Outline
An understanding of thermal physics is crucial to much of modern physics, chemistry and engineering. This book provides a modern introduction to the main principles that are foundational to thermal physics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. The key concepts are carefully presented in a clear way, and new ideas are illustrated with copious worked examples as well as a description of the historical background to their discovery. Applications are presented to subjects as diverse as stellar astrophysics, information and communication theory, condesed matter physics and climate change. Each chapter concludes with detailed exercises.
Authors

Stephen J. Blundell is a Professor of Physics at Oxford University and Professorial Fellow of Mansfield College, Oxford.

Katherine M. Blundell is a Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford University, a Royal Society University Research Fellow, and Science Research Fellow of St John's College, Oxford.

Oxford University Press Oxford University Department of Physics Stephen Blundell Katherine Blundell
Reviews
  • 'The best book I have ever encountered at this level ... a winner'
    Michael C. Mackey, McGill University
  • 'Students' first exposure to statistical mechanics and thermodynamics is always tricky. The mathematical machinery is quite simple, but the concepts are somewhat outside the framework set up in other courses. Moreover, with so many results derived from so few assumptions, it is important that the presentation be clear and logical. Concepts in Thermal Physics by Stephen J. Blundell and Katherine M. Blundell fulfills that need admirably, and their textbook will be very useful for an undergraduate course in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.'
    Physics Today