Thermodynamics is a core part of most science and engineering degree programs. However, the majority of texts that are currently available to students take a “classical” approach, teaching  thermodynamics very much as it was presented in the 19th century. This is done generally for historical rather than pedagogical reasons.   “Modern” thermodynamics, in contrast, relates entropy, the central concept of thermodynamics, to irreversible processes.

An Introduction to Modern Thermodynamics provides the first modern approach to thermodynamics written specifically for a first undergraduate course. It covers the fundamental formalism with some attention given to its history; describes basic applications of the formalism and continues with a number of additional applications that instructors can use according to their particular degree program – these chapters cover thermal radiation, biological systems, nano systems, classical stability theory, and principles of statistical thermodynamics. A wide range of examples appear throughout the book from biological, engineering and atmospheric systems.

Endlich ein Lehrbuch der modernen Thermodynamik speziell fur Studenten im Grundstudium! Nach der Einfuhrung des Formelgebaudes und seiner wichtigsten Anwendungen bietet der Autor eine Palette spezieller Kapitel zur Auswahl nach den Interessen des Lesers oder den Schwerpunkten des Kurses: Warmestrahlung, biologische Systeme, Nanosysteme, klassische Stabilitatstheorie, statistische Thermodynamik. Losungen fur die zahlreichen Beispiele und Ubungen konnen von einem zugehorigen Webserver heruntergeladen werden, der au?erdem interessante Links zu Datensammlungen und relevanten Ressourcen bietet.