Statistical Physics: Statics, Dynamics And Renormalization

The material presented in this invaluable textbook has been tested in two courses. One of these is a graduate-level survey of statistical physics; the other, a rather personal perspective on critical behavior. Thus, this book defines a progression starting at the book-learning part of graduate education and ending in the midst of topics at the research level. To supplement the research-level side the book includes some research papers. Several of these are classics in the field, including a suite of six works on self-organized criticality and complexity, a pair on diffusion-limited aggregation, some papers on correlations near critical points, a few of the basic sources on the development of the real-space renormalization group, and several papers on magnetic behavior in a plain geometry. In addition, the author has included a few of his own papers.

"Leo Kadanoff has been a pioneer in the elucidations of cooperative phenomena, in both equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems. His insights are deep and he expresses them lucidly. This book is full of such goodies and is a pleasure to read and contemplate. Very highly recommended for both experts and novices." Joel L Lebowitz Rutgers University "Leo Kadanoff is one of the deep thinkers in statistical physics and that is apparent on almost every page of his "Statistical Physics: Statics, Dynamics, and Renormalization". This is a mixture of pedagogy, history (including reprints of classical or especially apt papers), and original thoughts, full of wisdom and with many startling insights. It is based in part on lectures Professor Kadanoff has given in graduate courses at the University of Chicago. His students and other attendees were most fortunate; I wish I had been among them!" Benjamin Widom Cornell University "This long-awaited book is an elegant and rather personal account of statistical mechanics that stands out form the pack for many reasons. Not only does it conspicuously emphasize the different treatments afforded to different levels of description, but it also discusses the connection between dynamical systems theory and the foundations of statistical mechanics. Kadanoff's pioneering contributions to phase transitions and the renormalization group are covered in a marvellous retrospective that will be engaging to novice and expert alike. And the book is rounded out with an interesting selection of advanced topics and reprints, that will make it an essential part of a modern graduate course on statistical physics." Nigel Goldenfeld University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign "From a scientist reknown for his work, his lectures and very articulate opinions, this book is a completely new attempt to reconsider the traditional teaching of the whole subject of statistical physics. Avoiding any heavy formalism, Prof Kadanoff has chosen to introduce the main concepts through simple models which are far superior for understanding the subject in real depth. A little more than half of the book is devoted to the theory of phase transitions, a subject which owes so much to the author. Scaling theory and renormalization group are described in a remarkably simple and lucid manner. This book will be greatly enjoyed by its readers, academics and students all together." Edouard Brezin Ecole Normale de Superieure, Paris "Leo Kadanoff's, Statistical Physics: Statistics, Dynamics and Renormalization, offers an exciting new textbook choice for those teaching a course in statistical physics. In many ways the book breaks new ground in presentation, style, and choice of topics. It will be particularly appreciated for its emphasis on providing tools appropriate to the most active and important new research areas in statistical physics ... Kadanoff's lucid exposition and organization are clearly informed by his own unique view of the subject gained from a life-time of creative thought and profound contributions in statistical physics." Ed Ott University of Maryland "... this masterly written book on modern statistical physics by the old master in the field can be highly recommended as an excellent graduate textbook on statistical physics as well as a source on research in this very progressive field of nonlinear science." Mathematics Abstracts "... Statistical Physics is a collection of valuable essays and papers. Both the text and the reprints display Kadanoff's ingenuity, imagination, and clarity. They're worth having and reading." Physics Today, 2001