Modern uses of classical statistical mechanics?

[andresB]

Most of the cases when I see applications of statistical mechanics is when Fermi-Dirac or Bose-Einstein statistic are used in condensed matter or the equilibrium equation of neutron stars.

Besides the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, I would like to know what are the modern developments/applications of classical statistical mechanics.

 

[Charles Link]

The Planck blackbody function has got to be one of the more important results of statistical physics. For a recent posting on the Physics Forums on this topic, see https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/on-the-planck-blackbody-function.968782/#post-6152501

 

[andresB]

Isn't black-body radiation an example of Bose-Einstein?, If I remember correctly, the use of classical statistical mechanics lead to a divergence.

 

[Charles Link]

See https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...n-plancks-law-derivation.961396/#post-6097855 for some details of the derivation, and also the "links" in post 2 of that thread. And yes, the derivation does use Bose-Einstein statistics for the mean occupancy number of each mode, but there are several steps to the derivation. In those "links" I think you will find most of the derivation.

 

[marcusl]

The behavior of polymers is firmly rooted in classical stat mech.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer_physics
The opening chapter(s) of de Gennes's book on polymer physics has a beautiful discussion of the role entropy plays in polymer conformations.