Thermal Physics Entropy and Free Energies
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Author(s): J. C. Lee
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9810248741
Format: hardback
201pp
Price: £22.00
Review Date: 19 July 2002
Review: Thermal physics begins with the postulate of the maximum entropy principle. For systems in contact with various types of reservoir, the entropy principle is then transformed into various minimum free energy principles. The repeating theme is that molecules (spins) do X to maximize their energy and XX to minimize their free energy. This is the underlying theme of the book which is written in an informal style so that the reader feels comfortable with the extremum principles of entropy and free energies.