STATISTICAL-MODELS OF CLUSTERING MATTER

A unified approach is suggested for treating various systems composed of particles which can form clusters. The approach is based on an effe ctive cluster Hamiltonian. The principle of thermodynamic equivalence of systems with exact and effective Hamiltonians is formulated, which yields the conditions restricting the form of the dependence of a clus ter Hamiltonian on thermodynamic variables. Cluster operators, cluster statistics and interactions between clusters are analyzed. This appro ach allows us to describe different phase transitions connected with t he processes of evaporation-condensation and deconfinement-confinement .