Statistical mechanics deals with systems in which chaos and randomness reign supreme. The current theory is therefore firmly based on the equations of classical mechanics and the postulates of probability theory. This volume seeks to present a unified account of classical mechanical statistics, rather than a collection of unconnected reviews on recent results. To help achieve this, one element is emphasised which integrates various parts of the prevailing theory into a coherent whole. This is the hierarchy of the BBGKY equations, which enables a relationship to be established between the Gibbs theory, the liquid theory, and the theory of nonequilibrium phenomena. As the main focus is on the complex theoretical subject matter, attention to applications is kept to a minimum. The book is divided into three parts. The first part describes the fundamentals of the theory, embracing chaos in dynamic systems and distribution functions of dynamic systems. Thermodynamic equilibrium, dealing with Gibbs statistical mechanics and the statistical mechanics of liquids, forms the second part. Lastly, the third part concentrates on kinetics, and the theory of nonequilibrium gases and liquids in particular. Audience: This book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers whose work involves thermophysics, theory of surface phenomena, theory of chemical reactions, physical chemistry and biophysics.

Statistical mechanics deals with systems in which chaos and randomness reign supreme. The current theory is therefore firmly based on the equations of classical mechanics and the postulates of probability theory. This volume seeks to present a unified account of classical mechanical statistics, rather than a collection of unconnected reviews on recent results. To help achieve this, one element is emphasised which integrates various parts of the prevailing theory into a coherent whole. This is the hierarchy of the BBGKY equations, which enables a relationship to be established between the Gibbs theory, the liquid theory, and the theory of nonequilibrium phenomena. As the main focus is on the complex theoretical subject matter, attention to applications is kept to a minimum. The book is divided into three parts. The first part describes the fundamentals of the theory, embracing chaos in dynamic systems and distribution functions of dynamic systems. Thermodynamic equilibrium, dealing with Gibbs statistical mechanics and the statistical mechanics of liquids, forms the second part. Lastly, the third part concentrates on kinetics, and the theory of nonequilibrium gases and liquids in particular. Audience: This book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers whose work involves thermophysics, theory of surface phenomena, theory of chemical reactions, physical chemistry and biophysics.

Most of the properties of a metal-electrolyte interface, even the spe cific nature of an electrode reaction, proneness of a metal to cor rosion, etc., are primarily determined by the electrical double layer (EDL) at this boundary. It is therefore no surprise that for the last, at least, one hundred years intent attention should have been centered on EDL. So much of material has been gathered to date that we are easi ly lost in this maze of information. A substantial part of the attempts to systematize these facts is made at present within the framework of thermodynamics. Such a confined approach is undoubtedly inadequate. The Gouy-Chapman theory and the Stern-Grahame model of the dense part of EDL developed 40-70 years ago, tailored appropriately to suit the occasion, inevitably underlie any description of EDL. This route is rather too narrow to explain all the facts at our disposal. A dire necessity has thus arisen for widening the principles of the micros copic theory. This is precisely the objective of our monograph. Fur thermore, we shall dwell at length on the comparison of the theory with experiment: without such a comparative analysis, any theory, however elegant it may be, is just an empty drum.