Nonequilibrium Statistical Physics

While systems at equilibrium are treated in a unified manner through the partition function formalism, the statistical physics of out-of-equilibrium systems covers a large variety of situations that are often without apparent connection. This book proposes a unified perspective on the whole set of systems near equilibrium: it brings out the profound unity of the laws which govern them and gathers together a large number of results usually fragmented in the literature. The reader will find in this book a pedagogical account of the fundamental results: physical origins of irreversibility, fluctuation-dissipation theorem, Boltzmann equation, linear response, Onsager relations, transport phenomena, Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations. The book's comprehensive organization makes it valuable both as a textbook about irreversible phenomena and as a reference book for researchers. Its strength no doubt lies in showing how a large variety of subjects close to experimental interest are connected to a basis of fundamental statistical physics ... an excellent book that is likely to keep its value when fashion changes. Henk Hilhorst, Universite Paris-Sud An extremely thorough, complete and well written reference on all well established aspects of nonequilibrium statistical physics and corresponding linear irreversible processes. The book grew out of lectures given over many years at the graduate level in Paris, and is very pedagogical, providing cases and easily accessible knowledge in well written chapters. Hubert Saleur, University of Southern California The book is of high quality. It covers the important theoretical points and many interesting and important applications. Robert Mazo, University of Oregon.