Isamu Kusaka Group for Molecular Thermodynamics
About
Education
- Ph.D., CalTech, 1998
- M.S., University of Tokushima, 1990
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B.S., University of Tokushima, 1988
Professor Kusaka's research expertise is in statistical mechanics and transport phenomena in nano-scale systems. His current research effort is aimed at developing efficient algorithms for simulating nucleation of complex molecules. More phenomenological and less computationally demanding approaches are also developed. Ongoing research projects include a theoretical account of micelle-assisted cavitation, computer simulation of crystallization of molecular fluids, and a development of a force field to describe aromatic hydrocarbon-water clusters.
Expertise
- Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of nucleation.
- Statistical mechanics of transport phenomena.
- Particle based simulation methods (Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics, and dissipative particle dynamics).
- Statistical mechanical density functional theory.
Selected Achievements
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Kusaka generalized the Lowe-Andersen thermostat originally meant for isothermal dissipative particle dynamics simulation. At equilibrium, the resulting thermostat generates a microcanocnical instead of canonical ensemble while conserving the total linear momentum, and allows for a nonuniform temperature field at a steady-state.
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Kusaka developed a mathematical expression for the replacement partition function corresponding to a part of the translational and rotational free energy of a critical nucleus that is already accounted for in the classical expression for the free energy of critical nucleus formation. This made it possible to evaluate the Lothe-Pound factor by means of a molecular simulation.
KEY DISTINCTIONS
Publications
Among the large number of textbooks on statistical mechanics that exist today, few are accessible without a substantial background in physics. This book is intended to server as a gentle introduction to statistical mechanics for engineers who approach this subject for the first time without the necessary training in physics.
For details, visit publisher's web page here.
eBook version of the book can be found here. Alternatively, access the content (pdf files) through the OSU library at this link.
Table of Contents
Main Text
- Classical Mechanics
Newton's equations of motion, Lagrangian, Hamiltonian.
- Thermodynamics
A brief review of thermodynamics.
- Classical Statistical Mechanics
Canonical ensemble and its applications.
- Various Statistical Ensembles
Microcanonical, canonical, grand canonical, isothermal-isobaric ensembles, and their applications.
- Simple Models of Adsorption
Lattice gas, phase transition.
- Thermodynamics of Interface
An introduction to thermodynamics of interfaces following Gibbs.
- Statistical Mechanics of Inhomogeneous Fluids
An introduction to statistical mechanical density functional theory.
- Quantum Formulation
Dirac's bracket notation and its use in formulating statistical mechanics.
Appendices
- Vectors in 3-Dimensional Space
- Useful Formulae
- Legendre Transformation
- Dirac δ-Function
- Where to Go from Here
- List of Greek Letters
- Hints to Selected Exercises