Introduction to Computational Methods in Many Body Physics

This book is a multi-purpose and "user-friendly" textbook covering both fundamentals (in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics) and numerous applications. The emphasis is on simple derivations of simple results which can be compared with experimental data. The first half of the book covers basic thermodynamics, statistical ensembles, Boltzmann and quantum statistics; and the second half covers magnetism, electrostatic interactions (solutions and plasmas), non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, polymers, superfluidity, renormalization theory, and other specialized topics. This book, while serving well as a reference book for research scientists, is especially suitable as a textbook for a one-year statistical mechanics course for undergraduate students in physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, and material sciences. Alternatively, the first 5 chapters of the book can be used as the textbook for an undergraduate one-semester combined thermodynamics/statistical mechanics course (or statistical thermodynamics).