Plot Heat Capacity vs Temperature for a 2 state system microcananonical ensemble

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around plotting the heat capacity \( C \) versus temperature \( T \) for a two-state system in the context of a microcanonical ensemble. The original poster presents the equation for heat capacity and seeks assistance in sketching the graph based on asymptotic limits and identifying the maximum point.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore asymptotic behavior of the heat capacity at low and high temperatures, questioning how to determine the maximum value of \( C \). There is discussion about differentiating the function to find extrema, with some expressing uncertainty about the complexity of the differentiation process.

Discussion Status

Some participants have suggested methods to find the maximum, including a substitution to simplify the expression for analysis. Others have noted the need for numerical solutions to find roots of the resulting equations, indicating a productive direction in the exploration of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the challenges of graph sketching and the complexity of differentiation, highlighting potential gaps in knowledge regarding these mathematical techniques.

binbagsss
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Homework Statement



I have ##C= NK_B (\frac{\epsilon}{K_B T})^{2}e^{\frac{\epsilon}{K_B T}}\frac{1}{(e^{\frac{\epsilon}{K_BT}}+1)^2} ##

and need to sketch ##C## vs. ##T##

Homework Equations



See above

The Attempt at a Solution



I have ##C= NK_B (\frac{\epsilon}{K_B T})^{2}e^{\frac{\epsilon}{K_B T}}\frac{1}{(e^{\frac{\epsilon}{K_BT}}+1)^2} ##

Considering asymptotic limits I have:

##C \to e^{-\frac{\epsilon}{K_{B}T}} ## as ##T \to 0##
##C \to \frac{1}{T^{2}} ## as ##T \to \infty##

The solution is attached.

So from these limits I get the shape at these ends, and deduce there is a maximum to allow me to sketch the rest of it.

I am unsure how to deduce this maximum?

Differentiating gives quite a mess and it seems that it should be obvious to conclude the maximum is at ## \epsilon / K_{B} ##, or at least a better method to find this point? (My knowledge of graph sketching is quite poor).

Many thanks in advance.
 

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binbagsss said:

Homework Statement



I have ##C= NK_B (\frac{\epsilon}{K_B T})^{2}e^{\frac{\epsilon}{K_B T}}\frac{1}{(e^{\frac{\epsilon}{K_BT}}+1)^2} ##

and need to sketch ##C## vs. ##T##

Homework Equations



See above

The Attempt at a Solution



I have ##C= NK_B (\frac{\epsilon}{K_B T})^{2}e^{\frac{\epsilon}{K_B T}}\frac{1}{(e^{\frac{\epsilon}{K_BT}}+1)^2} ##

Considering asymptotic limits I have:

##C \to e^{-\frac{\epsilon}{K_{B}T}} ## as ##T \to 0##
##C \to \frac{1}{T^{2}} ## as ##T \to \infty##

The solution is attached.

So from these limits I get the shape at these ends, and deduce there is a maximum to allow me to sketch the rest of it.

I am unsure how to deduce this maximum?

Differentiating gives quite a mess and it seems that it should be obvious to conclude the maximum is at ## \epsilon / K_{B} ##, or at least a better method to find this point? (My knowledge of graph sketching is quite poor).

Many thanks in advance.
bump
 
The only suggestion I'd have is to let ##u=\frac{\epsilon}{k_\text{B}T}## and find the extremum of
$$\frac{u^2 e^u}{(1+e^u)^2}.$$ It shouldn't be that messy.
 
vela said:
The only suggestion I'd have is to let ##u=\frac{\epsilon}{k_\text{B}T}## and find the extremum of
$$\frac{u^2 e^u}{(1+e^u)^2}.$$ It shouldn't be that messy.

I have:

##2e^u+2+u-e^u u =0 ## , unsure of where to go now...
 
You'd have to solve that numerically. To get a qualitative idea of where the root lies, you can rewrite that equation as
$$e^u = \frac{u+2}{u-2}.$$ Plot graphs of the two sides of the equations and see where they intersect.
 

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