Partition function of classical oscillator with small anharmonic factor

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the partition function for a one-dimensional array of N oscillators, each with the same frequency and a small anharmonic factor. The problem involves integrating an expression that includes kinetic and potential energy terms, as well as an anharmonic term.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the integration of the partition function and consider approximations for the anharmonic term. There are attempts to manipulate the integral and express it in terms of known integrals. Some participants question their approach to deriving expressions for energy and heat capacity.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing various attempts and insights into the calculations. Some have provided useful integral forms, while others express confusion about the relationships between the partition function, energy, and heat capacity. There is no explicit consensus, but several lines of reasoning are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraint of a small anharmonic factor and are trying to derive results that align with specific properties mentioned in the problem statement. There is an acknowledgment of potential mistakes in logarithmic properties and approximations.

castlemaster
Messages
37
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Having a unidemsional array of N oscillators with same frequency w and with an anharmonic factor [tex]ax^4[/tex] where 0 < a << 1

Calculate, up to the first order of a, the partition function.

Homework Equations



For one oscillator

[tex]Z=\frac{1}{h}\int{e^{-\beta(p^2/2m+1/2mw^2x^2+ax^4)}dpdx}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



Tried to

[tex]Z=\frac{K'}{h}\int{e^{\frac{-\beta*mw^2x^2}{2}(1+\frac{2a}{mw^2}x^2))}dpdx}[/tex]

and I guess I can approximate [tex](1+bx^2)[/tex] to something ... but I know more or less the solution and I can't figure out how to reach it.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
[tex] Z=\frac{1}{h}\int{e^{-\beta(p^2/2m+1/2mw^2x^2+ax^4)}dpdx}[/tex]
[tex] =\frac{1}{h}\int{e^{-\beta(p^2/2m+1/2mw^2x^2)}e^{-\beta ax^4}dpdx}[/tex]
[tex] =\frac{1}{h}\int{e^{-\beta(p^2/2m+1/2mw^2x^2)} (1 -\beta ax^4 + \cdots) }dpdx}[/tex]

you should probably know how to calculate the last.
but here are some useful integrals

[tex]\int e^{-ax^2} = \sqrt{\pi/a}[/tex]
[tex]\int x^2 e^{-ax^2} = \frac{1}{2} \sqrt{\frac{\pi}{a^3}}[/tex]
[tex]\int x^4 e^{-ax^2} = \frac{3}{4} \sqrt{\frac{\pi}{a^5}}[/tex]
 
good luck.
 
That's what I thought but part b of the problem say:

show that [tex]C_{v}=Nk(1-\frac{6*\alfa*k}{m^2w^4}T)[/tex]

but
[tex]E=-\frac{d lnZ}{d\beta}[/tex]
and
[tex]C_{v}=\frac{d E}{dT}[/tex]

if I do all the integrals I get something like

[tex]ln Z=Nln(K_{1}\beta^{n})[/tex]

and for the properties of the ln

[tex]ln Z=Nln(K_{1}) +Nnln(\beta)[/tex]

and making the derivate over B will never give the Cv mentioned.

What I'm doing wrong?

Thanks for the answer
 
if I do

[tex]u=\frac{\beta mw^2x^2}{2}[/tex]

then I get something like

[tex]\frac{1}{\beta mw^2}\int{e^{-u}e^{-\frac{4\alpha u^2}{\beta m^2w^4}}}[/tex]

I think it approches what I need to end with, at least the variables are similar,

someone has a clue? maybe using the fact that the derivate of exp(ax^n) is nax^(n-1)exp(ax^n)

I'll appreciate any clue

thanks
 
i already told you how to do this.

step 1. do the math.
you end up with [itex]z = c_1 \beta^{-1} - a c_2 \beta^{-2}[/itex]
for constants c1, and c2.

step 2. still do the math.
find [itex]E = - \frac{d \log z}{d\beta}[/itex], this will still have an a in
the denominator, drop it (using small a approximation)

step 3. do even more math.
find [itex]C_v = \frac{dE}{dT}[/itex]

step 4. ?

step 5. profit.
 
You are right qbert,
I was just doing a stupid mistake everytime.

ln(a*b) = lna+lnb RIGHT
ln(a+b) = lna+lnb STUPID
ln(1+ax) aprox.= ax for a small

thanks for the patience
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
6K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K