Molecular, Quantum and Evolution Thermodynamics: Development and Specialization of the Gibbs Method

Recently Professor E. S.Rudakov has written a new book which might have attracted the attention of many peoples interested in thermodynamics. From previous experience it can be anticipated, however, that its impact on the majority of international scientific community would be substantially delayed because this book was published by an Ukrainian publisher in Russian. The main aim of this book can be understood as further development and "specialization" of the Gibbs method by combining the equations of Gibbs thermodynamics with those of quantum mechanics. The classical Gibbs equation is complemented by new terms accounting for motions of, and interaction between, particles. This approach proved applicable to some simple model systems (such as the ideal gas, systems of point rotators and vibrators, systems with central interparticle interactions, including those in external field, photon gas, etc.). New solution of these problems are made possible within the frame of the mathematical formalism of characteristic functions. This provides a unified approach to the derivation of equations and inequalities specifying conditions of equilibrium, stability criteria, parameters of mutual convexity and fluctuations of variables. The so called "Specialized Thermodynamics" is, in fact, a generalization of the method of thermodynamic potentials by introduction of molecular-quantum variables. In this way, the information on a specific class of molecular systems is directly introduced into the Gibbs equation as