This monograph develops a unified microscopic basis for phases and phase changes of bulk matter and small systems in terms of classical physics. The origins of such phase changes are derived from simple but physically relevant models of how transitions between rigid crystalline, glassy and fluid states occur, how phase equilibria arise, and how bulk properties evolve from those of small systems.

"This monograph develops a unified microscopic basis for phases and phase changes of bulk matter and small systems in terms of classical physics. The origins of such phase changes are derived from simple but physically relevant models of how transitions between rigid crystalline, glassy and fluid states occur, how phase equilibria arise, and how bulk properties evolve from those of small systems. TOC:Introduction.- Part I. Thermodynamics of ensembles of classical particles.- Excitation in simple atomic ensembles.- Macroscopic ensembles of interacting particles.- Thermodynamics of dense gases and liquids.- Clusters with a short-range interaction between atoms.- Ensembles of classical particles with repulsion.- Part II. Configurational excitations and aggregate states of ensembles of classical particles.- Configurational excitation for an ensemble of interacting atoms.- Configurational excitation in clusters with pairwise atomic interactions.- Phase transitions in macroscopic systems of atoms.- Melting of clusters and bulk atomic ensembles.- Part III. Dynamics of configurational excitations in ensembles of classical particles.- Coexistence of cluster phases.- Glassy states of simple particle ensembles.- Transport of voids in nucleation processes"

Thermodynamics of Ensembles of Classical Particles.- Excitations in Simple Atomic Ensembles.- Structures of Ensembles of Interacting Particles.- Thermodynamics of Dense Gases and Liquids.- Clusters with Short-Range Interaction.- Ensembles of Classical Particles with Repulsion.- Configurational Excitations and Aggregate States of Ensembles of Classical Particles.- Configurational Excitation and Voids in Ensembles of Bound Classical Atoms.- Configurational Cluster Excitation with Pairwise Interactions.- Phase Transitions in Macroscopic Systems of Atoms.- Melting of Clusters and Bulk Atomic Ensembles.- Dynamics of Configurational Excitations in Ensembles of Classical Particles.- Coexistence of Cluster Phases.- Glassy States of an Ensemble of Bound Atoms.- Transport of Voids in Nucleation Processes.- Conclusion and Summary.