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"An excellent volume which documents the latest thinking and future trends in physics research....The interdisciplinary nature of the material will make this book valuable to both veteran researchers and those new to the field." Physics in Canada

Edited by Nobel Prize winner A.M. Prokhorov, these incisive essays review free-electron lasers and microwave generators in plasma physics, relativistic beam physics, radiation physics, and energy physics, as well as particle accelerators and synchrotron radiation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Free Electron Lasers;Microwave; Relativistic Beam Physics
RESEARCH TRENDS in PHYSICS ( V. Stefan ,Series Editor) Physics in Canada Vol.49,No5, p393;November 1993. La Physique au Canada,Novembre1993. Edited by Nobel Laureate, A.M. Prokhorov of the Russian Academy of Sciences, thisbook is based on an invited Symposium organized by the La JollaInternational School of Physics, Inst. for Advanced Physics Studies, LaJolla, California, in February, 1991. It covers theoretical, experimental,and technological problems addressed by prominent researchers from aroundthe world. Contributors in the series - all of whom were invited - wereencouraged by the organizers to go beyond the narrow confines of their workand reflective broader issues. This is reflected in the incisive essayswhich review critical issues, critique the field's status, and point theway toward new avenues and trends in research. V. Stefan of the Institutefor Advanced Physics Studies, who is the series editor, has put together anexcellent volume which documents the latest thinking and future trends inresearch. The topic covered in these essays are free electron lasers,microwave generators, relativistic beam physics, radiation and energyphysics, as well as accelerators and synchrotron radiation physics.Fromthe material presented in this volume, it is clear that the goal set by thesymposium in this volume was met. The symposium brought together some ofthe most prominent researchers from around the world. Their discussionindicate the status of some of the areas covered and the future trend inthese fields. The interdisciplinary nature of the material will make thisbook valuable to both veteran researchers and those new to the field. ... Read more

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This three-volume series presents the ideas, models and approaches essential to understanding plasma dynamics and self-organization for researchers and graduate students in plasma physics, controlled fusion and related fields such as plasma astrophysics. Volume I develops the physical kinetics of plasma turbulence through a focus on quasi-particle models and dynamics. It discusses the essential physics concepts and theoretical methods for describing weak and strong fluid and phase space turbulence in plasma systems far from equilibrium. The book connects the traditionally 'plasma' topic of weak or wave turbulence theory to more familiar fluid turbulence theory, and extends both to the realm of collisionless phase space turbulence. This gives readers a deeper understanding of these related fields, and builds a foundation for future applications to multi-scale processes of self-organization in tokamaks and other confined plasmas. This book emphasizes the conceptual foundations and physical intuition underpinnings of plasma turbulence theory. ... Read more

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This book tells the fascinating story of fusion. As the process that fuels the stars and galaxies lighting up the night sky, fusion is the main source of energy in our Universe. We owe our very existence to the warmth of the Sun that it generates and, at the start of the new milllennium,fusion may prove to be the only sustainable way to meet the long-term energy demands of modern society.

Professor Hans Wilhelmsson shares with us his delight and his 50 year, life-long dream as one of fusion's main contemporary figures, to recreate on Earth the conditions that give rise to fusion at the heart of the Sun. He takes us through time on an epic voyage where we meet Nobel prizewinning characters such as Neils Bohr, Hannes Alfven and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and the any cultural inspirations that have brought us to the brink of achieving controlled fusion in the laboratory. He charts the Universe stopping en route to explain how fusion and its vehicle, plasmaphysics, lies behind some of the most awe-inspiring phenomena in the Cosmos, from jets and quasars to the beautiful Aurora Borealis - the Northern Lights.

Forever insightful, the author shows not only the links between developments in space and laboratory plasma physics, he also presents 16 rare and original color plates to highlight the relevance and parallels in the work of Vincent Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci and Max Ernst to the fusion quest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Plasma Physics
This book tells the fascinating story of fusion. As the process that fuels the stars and galaxies lighting up the night sky, fusion is the main source of energy in our Universe. We owe our very existence to the warmth of the Sun that it generates and, at the start of the new millenium, fusion may prove to be the sustainable way to meet the long-term energy demands of modern society.

Professor Hans Wilhelmsson share with us his delight and his 50-year, life-long dream as one of fusion's main contemporary figures, to recreate on Earth the conditions that give rise to fusion at the heart of the Sun. He takes us through time on an epic voyage where we meet Nobel prize-winning characters such as Niels Bohr, Hannes Alfven and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and the many cultural inspirations that have brought us to the brink of acheiving controlled fusion in the laboratory. He charts the Universe stopping en route to explain how fusion and its vehicle, plasma physics, lies behind some of the most awe-inspiring phenomena in the Cosmos from jets and quasars to the beautiful Aurora Borealis - the Northern Lights.

Forever insightful, the author shows not only the links between developments in space and laboratory plasma physics, he also presents sixteen rare and original colour plates to highlight the relevance and parallels in the work of Vincent Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci and Max Ernst, to the fusion quest. -- from book's back cover ... Read more

Product Description
A short, self-sufficient introduction to the physics of plasma for beginners as well as researchers in a number of fields. The author looks at the dynamics and stability of magnetoplasma and discusses wave and transport in this medium. He also looks at such applications as fusion research using magnetic confinement of Deuterium plasma, solar physics with its plasma loops reaching high into the corona, sunspots and solar wind, engineering applications to metallurgy, MHD direct generation of electricity, and railguns, finally touching on the relatively new and difficult subject of dusty plasmas.
The book includes mathematical notes and 99 exercises that supplement the theory presented and thus offers the beginner an easy introduction to this exciting field. It is an equally good textbook for final year undergraduates and first year research students. ... Read more

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Introduction to Plasma Physics is the standard text for an introductory lecture course on plasma physics. The text’s six sections lead readers systematically and comprehensively through the fundamentals of modern plasma physics. Sections on single-particle motion, plasmas as fluids, and collisional processes in plasmas lay the groundwork for a thorough understanding of the subject. The authors take care to place the material in its historical context for a rich understanding of the ideas presented. They also emphasize the importance of medical imaging in radiotherapy, providing a logical link to more advanced works in the area. The text includes problems, tables, and illustrations as well as a thorough index and a complete list of references. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great, but I wouldn't use it alone
This book can be very useful as a graduate level plasma text, or a reference, or as something to put on your shelf to make you look like a "serious" plasma physicist.It covers drifts extremely well and I was reasonably pleased with the two fluid model.But in the end if you are trying to learn plasma physics this book really shines as a SUPPLEMENT and I imagine would be pretty frustrating as your only source to learn from.I bought this book and Chen's book for my graduate plasma 1 course.I never opened Chen, referenced Goldston often throughout the course (and as expected put a lot of focus on the class notes).But honestly, I think you probably already know if you need this book.

The 4th element
I am a university student who major in physics. and this book was a text in plasma course. As plasma group of princeton univ. is strong, this bookis strong enough to understand plasma. most favorite thing in this book issufficient explanation about the physical and mathmatical explanation. andthe not good thing is a little dirty mathmatical calculation. so if youwant clear mathmatics, I think you had better look another book. Anyway ifyou read this from cover to cover, you can learn ABC of Plasma. isn't itwonderful? ... Read more

Product Description

This book is written by an experimentalist and covers all aspects of plasma physics at an introductory level. The fundamental concepts of plasma description are developed in a bottom-up approach of increasing mathematical complexity. The intuitive understanding of the concepts is emphasized. Different from most introductory texts, low-temperature plasmas, plasma discharges and plasma diagnostics get a much larger share. Controlled nuclear fusion is introduced and magnetic confinement is discussed at a simple level. Novel plasma phenomena as found in complex (dusty) plasmas are described. A large number of illustrations, worked out problems with solutions, and short summaries of the basics of each chapter make this text a companion for undergraduate and graduate students and a useful reference on the bookshelf.

Product Description

Observations and physical concepts are interwoven to give basic explanations of phenomena and also show the limitations in these explanations and identify some fundamental questions.

Compared to conventional plasma physics textbooks this book focuses on the concepts relevant in the large-scale space plasmas. It combines basic concepts with current research and new observations in interplanetary space and in the magnetospheres.

Graduate students and young researchers starting to work in this special field of science, will find the numerous references to review articles as well as important original papers helpful to orientate themselves in the literature.

Emphasis is on energetic particles and their interaction with the plasma as examples for non-thermal phenomena, shocks and their role in particle acceleration as examples for non-linear phenomena.

This second edition has been updated and extended. Improvements include: the use of SI units; addition of recent results from SOHO and Ulysses; improved treatment of the magnetosphere as a dynamic phenomenon; text restructured to provide a closer coupling between basic physical concepts and observed complex phenomena.

Product Description
A good working knowledge of fluid mechanics and plasma physics is essential for the modern astrophysicist. This graduate textbook provides a clear, pedagogical introduction to these core subjects. Assuming an undergraduate background in physics, this book develops fluid mechanics and plasma physics from first principles. This book is unique because it presents neutral fluids and plasmas in a unified scheme, clearly indicating both their similarities and their differences. Also, both the macroscopic (continuum) and microscopic (particles) theories are developed, establishing the connections between them. Throughout, key examples from astrophysics are used, though no previous knowledge of astronomy is assumed. Exercises are included at the end of chapters to test the reader's understanding. This textbook is aimed primarily at astrophysics graduate students. It will also be of interest to advanced students in physics and applied mathematics seeking a unified view of fluid mechanics and plasma physics, encompassing both the microscopic and macroscopic theories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Contemporary introduction to fluids and plasmas
This book is a modern introduction to the fascinating topics of fluids and plasmas. The author develops both the topics from first principles and treats them in a unified manner. His style is informal and narrative without being casual or chatty.

He starts off with showing how Navier-Stokes equations are a plausible consequence of Boltzmann equation thus assuring the reader that there is nothing new in the former. He then goes on to standard topics in fluid dynamics peppering his course with examples from astrophysics. Although the choice of topics leans towards those of astrophysical interests, the book never gives an impression that it is meant only for a select audience. Through out the course, it emphasizes essential physics relegating technicalities either to exercises or references.

The second part of the book develops plasma theory in a fashion similar to fluids in first part. It begins with motion of charged particles in an assortment of electromagnetic fields and plasma orbit theory.Later chapters gradually inch towards MHD via Vlasov equation and two-fluid model. The section ends with intriguing and rather hard topics of magnetic topologies and dynamo theory. I will credit the author for taking pains to make these topics accessible to a beginner in plasma physics. Of course, we pay price for simplicity by sacrificing rigor. But the reader is cautioned of it each time the author does so.

The book does not abruptly end after introducing basics but has an epilogue in which the author whets the readers' appetite by offering a glimpse into relativistic & radiation hydrodynamics. The venerable and old-fashioned hydrodynamics still has a lot of unchartered areas and the book succeeds in persuading the reader that these topics are relevant even today, rather more so now.

Wonderful Text.
This is a great book. It is clear, and organized very well.I wish it went into more detail, but it sets up a very solid foundation for understanding, and covers a very broad range of topics- it covers the board for Astrophysics.

From a student of Steve Balbus...
A clear exposition of all areas of astrophysical fluid dynamics (along with some plasma physics).I'm disappointed not to have found anything from the recent (and exciting) advances in MHD instabilities during the 1990s.The Balbus-Hawley Instability is completely ignored, which is a huge failure; this instability has revolutionized accretion disk theory and angular momentum transport, and has been the groundwork for a surge in numerical simulations of accretion disks.It's a great fundamental book nonetheless.

Useful addition to a fluid dynamics library
This book is intended for astrophysicists who want to learn some fluid dynamics and plasma physics.The book does cover traditional topics of plasma physics books--kinetic theory, continuum hydrodynamics andmagnetohydrodynamics, and plasma theory.There is a definite emphasis onastrophysical topics, although there are tidbits on aerodynamic lift,tokamaks, etc.It is sufficiently interesting to be of at least someinterest to general students of fluid dynamics or plasma physics.

Thebook begins with a sketch of the kinetic theory derivation of the NavierStokes equations, beginning with the Hamilton equations, and moving throughLiouville's theorem, the Boltzmann equation, and taking the BGKapproximation.It is only a sketch, not a full scale tutorial on kinetictheory, but I believe something along these lines does belong in any fluiddynamics course taught by a physics department.(Such courses are sadlyuncommon.)

The continuum derivation of the Navier-Stokes equations ispresented next, and I find it weak.I prefer the systematic,integral-based approaches found in books by, e.g., Panton and Kundu.Thereis NO discussion of the deformation (a.k.a. strain rate) tensor and theCauchy-Stokes decomposition. There are brief discussions of some standardflows (e.g, potential flow around a cylinder, viscous Poiseuille flow,aerodynamic lift) and a brief discussion of boundary layers.

Theremaining fluid dynamics chapters are on gas dynamics, waves andinstabilities, turbulence, and rotation.The turbulence chapter is thebest short introduction to Kolmogorov's -5/3 law that I've found; a goodpreface to reading the chapter on turbulence in other intro books, or evena dedicated turbulence book like Frisch. The remaining 7 chapters of thebook are on plasma physics, including magnetohydrodynamics (I'm not anexpert here, so I won't comment on them).

The book was favorably reviewedin "Comtemporary Physics" and "Journal of FluidMechanics", both reviewers praising the author's "engagingstyle" but expressing disappointment at the lack of more specialtopics in astrophysics. As long as a reader does not study this book inisolation, though, I think this would be an excellent supplement to his orher studies.I took this book with me on a vacation and enjoyed thereading.

A great book for the beginers.
This book is really going to help those who are interested in Astrophysical Plasma. I have got this book just at the begining of my research career. "The Physics of Fluids and Plasmas"has made aunique attempt,where theories of neutral fluids and plasmas are developedsimultaneously. Mathemetical details is very rare, but it understandable,since the title of this book contains "Introduction". ... Read more

Product Description
Extended and revised, Plasma Waves, 2nd Edition provides essential information on basic formulas and categorizes the various  possible types of waves and their interactions. The book includes modern and complete treatments of electron cyclotron emission, collisions, relativistic effects, Landau damping, quasilinear and nonlinear wave theory, and tunneling equations. The broad scope encompasses waves in cold, warm, and hot plasmas and relativistic plasma waves. Special chapters deal with the effects of boundaries, inhomogeneities, and nonlinear effects. The author derives all formulae and describes several fundamental wave experiments, allowing for a greater appreciation of the subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very nice book
This is a very good book, I'm an electric engineer with basic formation in plasma physics, even thought this book was very comfortable to read since the author uses SI units and pretty standard nomenclature, which is not the case for other plasma waves books!
It's a shame however that the problems are few and lots of them have no answer at all at the end of the book. Also a CD with the figures would be great. ... Read more

Product Description
Space plasma is so hot that the atoms break up into charged particles which then become trapped and stored in magnetic fields. When critical conditions are reached the magnetic field breaks up, releasing a large amount of energy and causing dramatic phenomena. The largest space plasma activity events observed in the solar system occur on the Sun, when coronal mass ejections expel several billion tons of plasma mass into space. This 2007 book provides a coherent and detailed treatment of the physical background of large plasma eruptions in space. It provides the background necessary for dealing with space plasma activity, and allows the reader to reach a deeper understanding of this fascinating natural event. The book employs both fluid and kinetic models, and discusses the applications to magnetospheric and solar activity. This will form an interesting reference for graduate students and academic researchers in the fields of astrophysics and plasma physics. ... Read more

Product Description
The book is devoted to the physics of plasma at high density, which has been compressed so strongly that the effects of interparticle interactions and non-ideality govern its behavior. Interest in this non-traditional plasma has been generated in recent years when states of matter with high concentration of energy became accessible experimentally as the basis of modern technologies and facilities. The greatest part of the matter in the Universe is in this exotic state. In this book, the methods of generation and diagnostics of strongly coupled plasmas are presented, along with the main theoretical methods and experimental results on thermodynamical, kinetic and optical properties. Particular attention is given to fast developing modern directions of strongly coupled plasma physics such as metallization of dielectrics and dielectrization of metals, non-neutral plasmas, dusty plasmas and their crystallization. The book is written for physicists and astrophysicists, engineers, and material scientists. ... Read more

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This monograph presents a comprehensive description of the theoretical foundations and experimental applications of spectroscopic methods in plasma physics research. The first three chapters introduce the classical and quantum theory of radiation, with detailed descriptions of line strengths and high density effects. The next chapter describes theoretical and experimental aspects of spectral line broadening. The following five chapters are concerned with continuous spectra, level kinetics and cross sections, thermodynamic equilibrium relations, radiative energy transfer, and radiative energy losses. The book concludes with three chapters covering the basics of various applications of plasma spectroscopy to density and temperature measurements and to the determination of some other plasma properties. Over one thousand references not only guide the reader to original research covered in the chapters, but also to experimental details and instrumentation. This will be an important text and reference for all those working on plasmas in physics, optics, nuclear engineering, and chemistry, as well as astronomy, astrophysics and space physics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

plasma physicist
A good reference book for any student or researcher working with spectroscopic plasma diagnostics.I used this for laboratory plasma experiments, but it could be useful for astrophysics observations as well. ... Read more

Product Description
Heliophysics is a developing scientific discipline integrating studies of the Sun's variability, the surrounding heliosphere, and climatic environments. Over the past few centuries, our understanding of how the Sun drives space weather and climate on the Earth and other planets has advanced at an ever-increasing rate. This volume, the first in a series of three heliophysics texts, integrates such diverse topics for the first time as a coherent intellectual discipline. It emphasizes the physical processes coupling the Sun and Earth, allowing insights into the interaction of the solar wind and radiation with the Earth's magnetic field, atmosphere and climate system. It provides a core resource for advanced undergraduates and graduates, and also constitutes a foundational reference for researchers in heliophysics, astrophysics, plasma physics, space physics, solar physics, aeronomy, space weather, planetary science and climate science. Additional online resources, including lecture presentations and other teaching materials, are accessible at www.cambridge.org/9780521110617.

Other volumes in this series:
Heliophysics: Space Storms and Radiation: Causes and Effects (Volume II)
Heliophysics: Evolving Solar Activity and the Climates of Space and Earth (Volume III)

The complete set:

Heliophysics 3 Volume Set ... Read more

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A Thorough Update of the Industry Classic on Principles of Plasma Processing

The first edition of Principles of Plasma Discharges and Materials Processing, published over a decade ago, was lauded for its complete treatment of both basic plasma physics and industrial plasma processing, quickly becoming the primary reference for students and professionals.

The Second Edition has been carefully updated and revised to reflect recent developments in the field and to further clarify the presentation of basic principles. Along with in-depth coverage of the fundamentals of plasma physics and chemistry, the authors apply basic theory to plasma discharges, including calculations of plasma parameters and the scaling of plasma parameters with control parameters.

New and expanded topics include:
* Updated cross sections
* Diffusion and diffusion solutions
* Generalized Bohm criteria
* Expanded treatment of dc sheaths
* Langmuir probes in time-varying fields
* Electronegative discharges
* Pulsed power discharges
* Dual frequency discharges
* High-density rf sheaths and ion energy distributions
* Hysteresis and instabilities
* Helicon discharges
* Hollow cathode discharges
* Ionized physical vapor deposition
* Differential substrate charging

With new chapters on dusty plasmas and the kinetic theory of discharges, graduate students and researchers in the field of plasma processing should find this new edition more valuable than ever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

outstanding plasma resource
One of the most practical and comprehensive resources on plasma phyics and engineering.The book is much easier to understand and more in depth than most other books on the subject, except for maybe chen (who takes more of a physics approach, whereas lieberman takes more of an engineering approach)This book is a must have for anyone working with or studying plasmas.

Overrated
As a praciticing process engineer my opinion is this book lacks insight.Typical text book written a professor in the academic community with no practical experience.This book spends far to much time deriving equationsand not discussing the basics concepts.The author makes a half heartedattempt to relate the first 14 chapters to the real worl, in a short andinadequate Chapter 15. This is the first mail book order book i took thetime to return.In all honesty this book is not worth the $90.00.Spendyour money elsewhere

An excellent overview of common plasma processing devices
Lieberman covers many of the standard processing devices and much of the physics needed to model them effectively.

The presentation is clear and extremely useful both as a reference and as a tutorial.A must-have bookfor anyone interested in plasma processing.

The book provides an excellent overview of plasma processing
This book provides an excellent introduction and overview of plasma discharges applied to semiconductor manufacturing. It is well-organized, clearly-written and full of useful examples and exercises.And unlike manybooks on plasma physics, it is not overly-mathematical and contains manyuseful physical insights. I strongly recommend this book for anyone wantingto review the field of plasma processing.

Very Good Theoretical Coverage of Plasma's, including ECR
This book provides a theoretical overview of plasma's, including coverage of ECR applications. This was very valuable for Hitachi Etchers. The theory is presented at an undergraduate level and assumes the reader has knowledge of vector analysis. Highly recommended for any Etch Process Engineer in the Semiconductor Industry. ... Read more

Product Description

This established text contains an advanced presentation of quantum mechanics adapted to the requirements of modern atomic physics. The third edition extends the successful second edition with a detailed treatment of the wave motion of atoms, and it also contains an introduction to some aspects of atom optics that are relevant for current and future experiments involving ultra-cold atoms. Included: Various problems with complete solutions.

Product Description

Complex plasmas differ from traditional plasmas in many ways: these are low-temperature high pressure systems containing nanometer to micrometer size particles which may be highly charged and strongly interacting. The particles may be chemically reacting or be in contact with solid surfaces, and the electrons may show quantum behaviour. These interesting properties have led to many applications of complex plasmas in technology, medicine and science.

Yet complex plasmas are extremely complicated, both experimentally and theoretically, and require a variety of new approaches which go beyond standard plasma physics courses. This book fills this gap presenting an introduction to theory, experiment and computer simulation in this field. Based on tutorial lectures at a very successful recent Summer Institute, the presentation is ideally suited for graduate students, plasma physicists and experienced undergraduates.

Product Description
In each generation, scientists must redefine their fields: abstracting, simplifying and distilling the previous standard topics to make room for new advances and methods. Sethna's book takes this step for statistical mechanics--a field rooted in physics and chemistry whose ideas and methods are now central to information theory, complexity, and modern biology. Aimed at advanced undergraduates and early graduate students in all of these fields, Sethna limits his main presentation to the topics that future mathematicians and biologists, as well as physicists and chemists, will find fascinating and central to their work. The amazing breadth of the field is reflected in the author's large supply of carefully crafted exercises, each an introduction to a whole field of study: everything from chaos through information theory to life at the end of the universe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Not good
This book is good only if you already know the subject from other books (like Donald Macquire or Pathria).

Short on info, long on problems
Overall, this is not a really bad book, the problem is the text is really short on explanations, and has virtually no examples. The author assumes that most of the learning will be done through the problems. Problem is most people don't have that kind of time to waste with problems.

If you like working problems, this is the book for you, if you want an informative text, than this is definitely not the book for you.

I really would like an updated version of Kerson Huang's truly excellent text. Statistical Mechanics, 2nd Edition

Great book, got me into the subject
I'mstudying for my final physics exams and - after having a look at a half-dozen or so other statistical mechanics book in the library - (none got me really involved) I have just to say that I'm really glad that I decided to buy this book!
It's really a joy and fun to read! I think that the other reviewers already gave a good description of the book and about the exercises I can confirm that there are lots of them with many topics being covered there. I personally think this is good, specially for self study - better do-it-yourself, the majority of them are very well elaborated and interesting.
I only wish also that some solutions would have been provided... (although I guess all of them together would fill another 300 pages book);
In any case highly recommended!

Deep, thoughtful, and beautiful introduction to the field
This advanced undergraduate or introductory graduate level text on statistical mechanics is clearly written by a master and perhaps visionary teacher. Statistical mechanics remains, in my opinion, the only truly rigorous science of emergent phenomena. As the scientific community in general focuses more on complex systems, it is likely that the techniques developed for the theoretical study of the statistical thermodynamic properties of matter will find widespread applications from biology to banking. In this spirit, this book is written to educate the next generation of scientists rather than as a text focused solely on existing applications.

While the subject matter of this book easily devolves into mathematical gymnastics, this text is wonderfully written to simultaneously build up an intuitive grasp along with proficiency with mathematical concepts. Introductory chapters on "What is statistical mechanics?" and "Random walks and emergent properties" are deceptively simple: the mathematical techniques employed in these chapters should be immediately accessible to senior level physics and engineering students. Yet by the end of Chapter 2, one finds oneself deriving a simple one-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation--a nontrivial application in statistical mechanics with applications in chemical kinetics, transport phenomena, mathematical biology, and finance.

This appeal to potentially broad applications is part of what makes this book unique. While a great number of important physical concepts are developed, this is really not an ordinary physics book. Instead, the tools and techniques of statistical mechanics are developed from an exceptionally broad perspective.

While I have worked very few of the problems, the end-of-chapter problems sets present deep and detailed questions that are critically integrated into the text. A reader who has the time and dedication to do the problems will gain much more than one who does not.

A terrific, contemporary and courageous textbook
The book Statistical Mechanics: Entropy, Order Parameters and Complexity by James Sethna is excellent. I have used it as the main textbook in my course on Statistical Physics for first year graduate students at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil. The students and I liked it very much.

I think that the main quality of the book is that it presents Statistical Physics as a very dynamical subject, interconnected with several subjects within physics, as well as outside it.

Since the book is aimed for a one semester course on the subject, the author had to make important choices. I really liked his choices. For instance, the book does not discuss approximate methods used to treat systems with interacting particles, instead the author has chosen to have a chapter on Calculation and Computation. Although these methods have played an important role in the past, nowadays the study of the relevant problems in the field require computer simulations. The chapter on Computer Simulation is excellent. Instead of only discussing how to perform a Monte Carlo simulation, it proofs mathematically in detail (except for the Perron-Frobenius theorem) why one ends up with an equilibrium probability distribution after a number of Monte Carlo steps. Another important subject covered in the book is that of Abrupt Phase Transitions. For most Statistical Physics books, only Second Order or Continuous Transitions exist. The exercises are also another very important and interesting choice made by the author. They are very different from the usual exercises one can find in a regular textbook on Statistical Physics. The exercises are in general very intelligent and they appear in a broad range of difficulty, from those which can be solved by inspection to those that are small projects. I recall two great examples, exercises 5.7 and 5.10, where it is shown in a very clear and clever way that, when we know the system from a microscopic point of view, its entropy does not increase, whereas if we know only a coarse-grained description of it, then its entropy does increase. Some exercises lead the reader, in a secure way, through aspects of the theory that are not covered in the text. For instance, Landau's theory for phase transitions is presented in a very nice way in exercise 9.5.

Perhaps, the aspect that I have enjoyed most in the book is that the author does not shy away from discussing one of the thorniest points in the fundamentals of Statistical Physics: what entropy really is. The book discusses in some detail Phase Space Dynamics and Ergodicity. It presents some physical situations where the ergodic hypothesis breaks down. Usually this problem with the theory is swept under the rug in most textbooks. One very interesting case is that of the entropy of glasses. A subject the author himself has worked on. If a liquid is cooled down very fast it may become a glass, undergoing what is called a glass transition. When the system is in the liquid phase its atoms are diffusing and the system goes through all different possible configurations, that is believed to be the cause for its entropy (ergodicity). When the liquid undergoes a glass transition, the atoms cease diffusing and the system is jammed in one (a single one) structure of the liquid that generated it. If the system is not anymore going through all the possible configurations available what has happened to its entropy? No heat is released in this transition, therefore, one does not expect a change in its entropy. A hardcore purist would answer that the glass is not a system in equilibrium and, therefore, the entropy is not well defined. The point is, it may take much more than the age of the Universe for the glass to reach the final equilibrium and become a crystal (reported changes in glasses of ancient churches are urban legends). The question about what has happened to the entropy of the liquid remains there, despite the purist's answer. The experimentalists can measure very well the residual entropy of a glass. For the author, for me and fortunately nowadays for many others, the satisfactory answer is that the entropy of a glass is the missing information about the system. Another example of residual entropy can be found in the ice cubes in your refrigerator.

At last but not least, I would like to comment on a misconception of a previous reviewer about Shannon's Information Theory. The entropy proposed by Shannon is a measure of the uncertainty of a set of possible messages that can be exchanged, regardless the content of each message. Therefore, this entropy is related to the probability distribution associated with the ensemble of possible messages, regardless of their content. If there are any doubts, I would suggest reading the first chapter of the book Mathematical Foundations of Information Theory by A. Ya. Khinchin. In section 5.3.2 of the book, the author is just analyzing the properties of the Shannon entropy of a probability distribution using a humorous example. The probability distribution can be associated with anything, even with a key lost by a careless room-mate. This entropy is a property of the probability distribution, independent of any possible meaning attributed to it by a human being. ... Read more

Product Description
As part of its current physics decadal survey, Physics 2010, the NRC was asked by the DOE, NSF, and NASA to carry out an assessment of and outlook for the broad field of plasma science and engineering over the next several years. The study was to focus on progress in plasma research, identify the most compelling new scientific opportunities, evaluate prospects for broader application of plasmas, and offer guidance to realize these opportunities.The study paid particular attention to these last two points. This "demand-side" perspective provided a clear look at what plasma research can do to help achieve national goals of fusion energy, economic competitiveness, and nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship. This report provides an examination of the broad themes that frame plasma research: low-temperature plasma science and engineering; plasma physics at high energy density; plasma science of magnetic fusion; space and astrophysical science; and basic plasma science. Within those themes, the report offers a bold vision for future developments in plasma science. ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides a systematic introduction to the physics of plasma diagnostics measurements. It develops from first principles the concepts needed to plan, execute and interpret plasma measurements, making it a suitable book for graduate students and professionals with little plasma physics background. The book will also be a valuable reference for seasoned plasma physicists, both experimental and theoretical, as well as those with an interest in space and astrophysical applications. This second edition is thoroughly revised and updated, with new sections and chapters covering recent developments in the field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

good ol' hutch
A fairly detailed look at the most common plasma diagnostic techniques (reflectometry, Thomson scattering, magnetic probes etc).Doesn't include "advanced" diagnostics such as MSE.

broad review of plasma diagnostics
Plasma diagnsotics is very broad and difficult subject. In my case, I understand the concept of Z-Pinch plasma diagnostics with the aid of this book. However, If you have been interested in cold plasma diagnostics, thisbook is not only good guide book. Very detail descrption will enabel anydiagnostics to be possible. ... Read more