A Student's Guide to the Ising Model

Description

The Ising model provides a detailed mathematical description of ferromagnetism and is widely used in statistical physics and condensed matter physics. In this Student's Guide, the author demystifies the mathematical framework of the Ising model and provides students with a clear understanding of both its physical significance, and how to apply it successfully in their calculations. Key topics related to the Ising model are covered, including exact solutions of both finite and infinite systems, series expansions about high and low temperatures, mean-field approximation methods, and renormalization-group calculations. The book also incorporates plots, figures, and tables to highlight the significance of the results. Designed as a supplementary resource for undergraduate and graduate students, each chapter includes a selection of exercises intended to reinforce and extend important concepts, and solutions are also available for all exercises.

James S. Walker is Emeritus Professor of Physics at Washington State University and has previously held positions at the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has taught the Ising model both at undergraduate and graduate level and is the author of the highly successful undergraduate text Physics (Addison-Wesley) now in its fifth edition.