Symmetry factors in cluster expansions

[Nikos Christodoulou]

I have been going through a thermal physics book by Schroeder. In chapter 8 (Systems of Interacting Particles) he introduces the configuration integral in terms of pictorial diagrams describing sets of interacting particles in a weakly interacting gas. Each configuration has an associated symmetry factor, however, it is not clear how these factors are supposed to be determined. Likely the system he analyses is the canonical ensemble partition function. Is there any book that explains in more detail how these factors are calculated?

 

[BigJDubs]

I'm not aware of any book that specifically explains how to calculate the symmetry factors associated with the configuration integral in weakly interacting gases. However, there are several books that provide a general overview of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, which should provide the background necessary to understand the calculation of the symmetry factors. For example, David Chandler's Introduction to Modern Statistical Mechanics is a good reference for this topic. Additionally, The Feynman Lectures on Physics Volume I contains a chapter on statistical mechanics which covers topics related to the configuration integral.