- #1
Mjdgard
- 3
- 0
I got a problem by finding an proper explanation.
The Boltzmann factor is defined as
[itex]P_j=\frac{1}{Z}e^{-\beta E_j}[/itex]
I know, this is a probability distribution. but what exactly does it mean?
Wikipedia says: "The probability Pj that the system occupies microstate j" (link)
But that doesen make sense to me. cos [itex]\sum_i[/itex] is equal to 1.
That would only make sense if i look at ONLY 1 particle and not a system with n particles IMHO.
Then i got this Partition function Z.
It is defined as [itex]Z=\sum_i g_i e^{- \frac{E_i}{k_BT}[/itex]
with a factor gi denoting the degeneracy of energy states.
What is gi? i thought it's the number of different states in this energy level. but that's not likely cos in the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution there's no pauli law...
thanks
The Boltzmann factor is defined as
[itex]P_j=\frac{1}{Z}e^{-\beta E_j}[/itex]
I know, this is a probability distribution. but what exactly does it mean?
Wikipedia says: "The probability Pj that the system occupies microstate j" (link)
But that doesen make sense to me. cos [itex]\sum_i[/itex] is equal to 1.
That would only make sense if i look at ONLY 1 particle and not a system with n particles IMHO.
Then i got this Partition function Z.
It is defined as [itex]Z=\sum_i g_i e^{- \frac{E_i}{k_BT}[/itex]
with a factor gi denoting the degeneracy of energy states.
What is gi? i thought it's the number of different states in this energy level. but that's not likely cos in the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution there's no pauli law...
thanks