Khinchin: Mathematical Foundations Of Statistical Mechanics

[mjordan2nd]

Hello,

I'm a first year graduate student, and one of the required texts for my class is the book alluded to in the title. However, it seems to me that this book is written in the language of a mathematician, and is a bit inaccessible to me. Particularly, I'm having trouble following the proofs. I'm not familiar with proof-writing or the concept of measures, both of which are frequently used. Could anyone advise a reference for someone who has had basic undergraduate math for physics majors (PDEs, Complex variables, Linear Algebra, etc.), and taken a basic graduate-level math methods course, but is unfamiliar with the abstract mathematics in this book that might be able to get me up to speed, at least well enough to follow this book?

Thanks.

 

[TonyG]

Dear first year graduate student,

I completely understand your struggle with understanding the book. I have encountered similar challenges when reading texts outside of my specific field of expertise. My advice would be to start by reviewing the basics of proof-writing and measures. There are many online resources and textbooks available that can provide a refresher on these topics. Additionally, I would recommend reaching out to your professor or a fellow graduate student who may have a better understanding of the abstract mathematics used in the book. They may be able to provide some guidance or recommend additional resources.

Another approach could be to start with a more introductory text on the topic before diving into the book you are currently using. This will help you build a stronger foundation and make it easier to understand the proofs and concepts presented in the book.

Lastly, don't be discouraged if it takes some time to fully grasp the material. Abstract mathematics can be challenging, but with persistence and the right resources, you will be able to understand and apply it in your research. Best of luck in your studies!