Thermodynamical limit

A fundamental method in statistical physics, consisting of the study of a large (but finite) physical system by approximating it by some infinite idealized system. For example, a system consisting of $N$ particles (molecules) filling out a bounded domain $\Lambda$ in $\mathbb{R}^3$ can be replaced, for large $N$ and a large domain $\Lambda$ (compared to the size of a molecule), by a system of infinitely many such molecules filling out the whole space, in such a way that the properties and characteristics of the finite system (the dynamical character, the equilibrium property of ensembles, etc.) are close to the analogous properties and characteristics of the limit system.

References

[1]	D. Ruelle, "Statistical mechanics: rigorous results" , Benjamin (1974)
[2]	, Gibbs states in statistical physics , Moscow (1978) (In Russian; translated from English)
[3]	R.A. Minlos, "Lectures on statistical physics" Russian Math. Surveys , 23 : 1 (1968) pp. 137–196 Uspekhi Mat. Nauk , 23 : 1 (1968) pp. 133–190

References

[a1]	J.W. Gibbs, "Elementary principles in statistical mechanics" , Dover, reprint (1960)
[a2]	L.D. Landau, E.M. Lifshitz, "Statistical physics" , Pergamon (1980) (Translated from Russian)
[a3]	D. Ruelle, "Thermodynamic formalism" , Addison-Wesley (1978) Zbl 0401.28016