Fluctuations in Physical Systems

This text introduces applied statistical mechanics by considering physically realistic models. After an accessible introduction to theories of thermal fluctuations and diffusion, Hans Pecseli applies them in a variety of physical contexts. The first part of the book is devoted to processes in thermal equilibrium, and considers linear systems. The fluctuation dissipation theorem, Fokker-Planck equations, and the Kramers-Kroenig relations are introduced during the course of the exposition. The scope is then expanded to include nonequilibrium systems and also illustrates simple nonlinear systems.