Degenerate matter total energy

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The discussion centers on the total energy of degenerate matter, specifically the discrepancies between two references regarding the integration of Fermi energy. The first reference suggests a total energy formula that incorporates a factor of 3/5, while the second reference includes an 1/8 factor due to the octant of positive quantum numbers. The participants clarify that the inclusion of the octant is a matter of convention and that both references ultimately lead to consistent results when properly interpreted. Additionally, the conversation touches on the implications of these calculations for understanding neutron stars and the validity of the models used. The overall aim is to reconcile different approaches to calculating the total energy and pressure of degenerate matter in astrophysical contexts.
Orion1
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Fermi energy:
E_f =\frac{\hbar^2 \pi^2}{2m L^2} n_f^2

The number of states with energy less than E_f is equal to the number of states that lie within a sphere of radius |\vec{n}_f| in the region of n-space where nx, ny, nz are positive. In the ground state this number equals the number of fermions in the system:
N = 2\times\frac{1}{8}\times\frac{4}{3} \pi n_f^3

The factor of two is because there are two spin states, the factor of 1/8 is because only 1/8 of the sphere lies in the region where all n are positive, the octant of positive quantum numbers.

n_f=\left(\frac{3 N}{\pi}\right)^{1/3}

According to Wikipedia (ref. 1), the degenerate matter total energy is obtained by integrating the Fermi energy of each state over the allowed states:
E_t = {\int_0}^{N_0} E_f(N) dN = {3\over 5} N_0 E_f

However, according to ref. 2, total energy is:
E_t = \frac{1}{8} \int_0 ^{N_0} E_f(N) dN

1/8 is from the octant of positive quantum numbers in a sphere region where all n are positive.

My question is, why is the octant of positive quantum numbers included in the ref. 2 integration, but not included in the Wikipedia integration?

If the octant of positive quantum numbers is included in the integration, then why is the number of spin states also not included?

Also, I noticed that the Fermi energy equation in ref. 1 does not match the equation in ref. 2. Does this mean that the ref. 2 solution is incorrect?
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Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_energy"
http://www.sfu.ca/~boal/385lecs/385lec18.pdf"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Well it doesent matter where you put your 1/8, as long as you do it and know why you do it. Athor of wiki is making this from the begining, the author of ref 2 does it afterwards, since you deal with quadratic entities, and they are symmetric with respect to sign interchange.

Also regarding reference 2, the energy for each state is E_n = n^2 p^2 h^2 \pi^2 / mL^2

So the author of ref 2 has already included the factor 2 from the number of spin states there ;-) But he has not explicity said that he has, so one has to be careful.

You can see if you get the true result using both references conventions, as a test for yourself

Anymore questions regarding this?
 

E_t = {\int_0}^{N_0} E_f(N) dN = {\int_0}^{N_0} \frac{\hbar^2 \pi^2}{2m L^2} \left( \frac{3 N}{\pi} \right)^{2/3} dN

E_t = \frac{3^{\frac{2}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{2m L^2} {\int_0}^{N_0} N^{\frac{2}{3}} dN = \frac{3^{\frac{2}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{2m L^2} \left( \frac{3}{5} N^{\frac{5}{3}} \right) = \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{10 m L^2} N^{\frac{5}{3}}

Degenerate matter total Fermi energy:
\boxed{E_t = \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{10 m L^2} N^{\frac{5}{3}}}
[/Color]
 
Orion1 said:
E_t = {\int_0}^{N_0} E_f(N) dN = {\int_0}^{N_0} \frac{\hbar^2 \pi^2}{2m L^2} \left( \frac{3 N}{\pi} \right)^{2/3} dN

E_t = \frac{3^{\frac{2}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{2m L^2} {\int_0}^{N_0} N^{\frac{2}{3}} dN = \frac{3^{\frac{2}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{2m L^2} \left( \frac{3}{5} N^{\frac{5}{3}} \right) = \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{10 m L^2} N^{\frac{5}{3}}

Degenerate matter total Fermi energy:
\boxed{E_t = \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{10 m L^2} N^{\frac{5}{3}}}
[/Color]


looks ok, good job!
 
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Wait 3sec and I'll check your calculations more carefully
 
You intepretation is wrong.

the subscript 0 is perhaps confusing you...

You have entierly correct in post #3, but you must keep subscript 0:

E_t = \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{10 m L^2} N_0^{\frac{5}{3}}

That is the total energy of a system of N_0 identical fermions at T=0K.

The Fermi energy is defined as the maximum energy, i.e at particle # N_0
E_f =\frac{\hbar^2 \pi^2}{2m L^2} \left(\frac{3 N_0}{\pi}\right)^{2/3}

Then it is a trivial thing to rewrite the total energy as something times E_f
 

E_t = {\int_0}^{N_0} E_f(N) dN = {\int_0}^{N_0} \frac{\hbar^2 \pi^2}{2m L^2} \left( \frac{3 N}{\pi} \right)^{\frac{2}{3}} dN

E_t = \frac{3^{\frac{2}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{2m L^2} {\int_0}^{N_0} N^{\frac{2}{3}} dN = \frac{3^{\frac{2}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{2m L^2} \left( \frac{3}{5} N_0^{\frac{5}{3}} \right) = \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{10 m L^2} N_0^{\frac{5}{3}}

Degenerate matter total Fermi energy:
\boxed{E_t = \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{10 m L^2} N_0^{\frac{5}{3}}}
[/Color]
 
yes, and by using:

E_f =\frac{\hbar^2 \pi^2}{2m L^2} \left(\frac{3 N_0}{\pi}\right)^{2/3}

You'll get the famous result:

E_t = \frac{3}{5}N_0E_f
 
  • #10

Integration by substitution:
E_t = \frac{3}{5} N_0 E_f = \frac{3}{5} N_0 \left[ \frac{\hbar^2 \pi^2}{2m L^2} \left(\frac{3 N_0}{\pi}\right)^{2/3} \right] = \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{10 m L^2} N_0^{\frac{5}{3}}

\boxed{E_t = \frac{3}{5} N_0 E_f}
[/Color]
 
  • #11

Degenerate total Fermi energy:
E_t = \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{10 m L^2} N_0^{\frac{5}{3}}

The elimination of L in favor of V:
L^2 = V^{\frac{2}{3}}

Degenerate total Fermi energy:
E_t = \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2 N_0^{\frac{5}{3}}}{10 m V_0^{\frac{2}{3}}}

Degenerate Fermi pressure:
P_f = - \frac{\partial E}{\partial V}

Integration by differentiation substitution:
P_f = - \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2 N_0^{\frac{5}{3}}}{10 m} \left( \frac{V_0^{- \frac{2}{3}}}{dV} \right)

Differentiation identity:
\frac{V^{-n}}{dV} = -n V^{-n - 1} = \left(-\frac{2}{3} \right) V^{-\frac{2}{3} - \frac{3}{3}} = \left(- \frac{2}{3} \right) V^{-\frac{5}{3}}

N_0 = \frac{M_0}{m} \; \; \; \rho_0 = \frac{M_0}{V_0}

Integration by substitution:
P_f = - \left(- \frac{2}{3} \right) \frac{3^{\frac{5}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{10 m} \left( \frac{N_0}{V_0} \right)^{\frac{5}{3}} = \frac{3^{\frac{2}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2}{5 m} \left( \frac{M_0}{m V_0} \right)^{\frac{5}{3}} = \frac{3^{\frac{2}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2 \rho_0^{\frac{5}{3}}}{5 m^{\frac{8}{3}}}

Degenerate Fermi pressure:
\boxed{P_f = \frac{3^{\frac{2}{3}} \pi^{\frac{4}{3}} \hbar^2 \rho_0^{\frac{5}{3}}}{5 m^{\frac{8}{3}}}}

Is my equation solution for degenerate Fermi pressure incorrect?
[/Color]
Reference:
http://www.sfu.ca/~boal/385lecs/385lec18.pdf"
http://www.sfu.ca/~boal/385lecs/385lec19.pdf"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #12
You have the answer in eq.3 in the souce 'lecture 19', is it difficult to see if the answers match??
 
  • #13


That degenerate Fermi pressure solution depends on if this solution for Fermion number is valid for a degenerate neutron star?

Fermion number:
\boxed{N_0 = \frac{M_0}{m_n}}

key:
M_0 - total stellar mass
m_n - neutron mass
[/Color]
 
  • #14
Orion1 said:
That degenerate Fermi pressure solution depends on if this solution for Fermion number is valid for a degenerate neutron star?

Fermion number:
\boxed{N_0 = \frac{M_0}{m_n}}

key:
M_0 - total stellar mass
m_n - neutron mass
[/Color]


What?

How to go from a fermi pressure in theory to a Neutron Star are some more steps dude.

What is your aim by doing all these calculations on degenerate matter?
 
  • #16
hmm one validates models by doing observation, but anyways, was just curious.
 

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