Thermodynamic methods in the theory of heterogeneous systems (Q1189414)

By this book the author provides a detailed monograph on a scientific field of great importance. The main object of the work is to establish conditions of phase equilibrium and criteria for its stability on the base of a mathematically strict field theory using the concepts and methods of continuum mechanics. For this purpose the tensor calculus referring to a moving surface or phase boundary is formulated carefully. The concept of a tensor valued chemical potential is deduced in a natural way. The kind of phase boundaries and phase transitions are classified in detail. The statement of stability conditions in the form of inequalities is based uniformly on the investigation of extrema of energy functionals. Numerous hints to applications are given. The book can be recommended to scientists and postgraduate students studying phase equilibria and well intimate with continuum theory. The notation used seems somewhat extraordinary and sometimes difficult to survey; therefore the book is not suited for undergraduate students and for experimentally working people with only superficial knowledge in field theory.