The general motivation to use the monte carlo method in statistical physics is to evaluate a multivariable integral the typical problem begins with a system for which the hamiltonian is known it is at a given temperature and it follows the boltzmann statistics . Physics in particular it is about monte carlo methods which form the largest and most important class of numerical methods used for solving statistical physics problems in this opening chapter of the book we look first at what we mean by statistical physics giving a brief overview of the discipline we call statistical mechanics. 420 13 monte carlo methods in statistical physics similarly we can compute the chemical potential as u k bt lnz n vt for a system described by the canonical ensemble the energy is an expectation value since we allow energy to be exchanged with the surroundings a heat bath with temperature u. In the seven years since this volume first appeared there has been an enormous expansion of the range of problems to which monte carlo computer simulation methods have been applied this fact has already led to the addition of a companion volume applications of the monte carlo method in statistical physics topics in current physics