The aim of this book is the pedagogical exploration of the basic principles of
quantum-statistical thermodynamics as applied to various states of matter - ranging from rare
gases to astrophysical matter with high-energy density. The reader will learn in this work that
thermodynamics and quantum statistics are still the concepts on which even the most advanced
research is operating - despite of a flood of modern concepts classical entities like
temperature pressure energy and entropy are shown to remain fundamental.The physics of gases
plasmas and high-energy density matter is still a growing field and even though solids and
liquids dominate our daily life more than 99 percent of the visible Universe is in the state
of gases and plasmas and the overwhelming part of matter exists at extreme conditions connected
with very large energy densities such as in the interior of stars.This text combining
material from lectures and advanced seminars given by the authors over many decades is a
must-have introduction and reference for both newcomers and seasoned researchers alike.
