What is the Gibbs sum for a system with two possible states and one particle?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the Gibbs sum for a system with two possible states and one particle, focusing on energy levels of zero and epsilon. The participants explore various aspects of statistical mechanics related to occupancy and energy averages.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the formulation of the Gibbs sum and its components, including the contributions from different energy states. There are attempts to derive expressions for thermal averages of occupancy and energy. Questions arise regarding the distinction between average occupancy and specific energy contributions.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided partial derivations and expressed confusion regarding certain aspects of the problem. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of occupancy states and energy contributions, with no explicit consensus reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the definitions of variables such as lambda and the implications of occupancy states, with some uncertainty about the validity of certain assumptions regarding particle occupancy.

stunner5000pt
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a) Consider a system that may be unoccupied with energy zero or iccuped by one particle in either of two states, one of zer oeenrgy and one of energy epsilon. Show taht the Gibbs sum for this system is

z = 1 + \lambda / \lambda\exp(-\epsilon/\tau)

b) Show that the thermal average occupancy of the ssytem is
<N> = \frac{\lambda + \lambda\exp(-\epsilon/\tau)}{z}

c) show that the thermal average occupancy of the state at eneryg = epsilon is
<N(\epsilon)> = \lambda\exp(-\epsilon/\tau)/z

d) Find an expression for the theram laverage eneryg of the system
e) Allow the possibility tat the orbital at 0 and at epslon may be occupied each by one particle at the same time, show that
z = 1 + \lambda + \lambda\exp(-\epsilon/\tau) + \lambda^2 \exp(-\epsilon/\tau) = (1+ \lambda) [1 + \lambda \exp(\epsilon/\tau)]


I will post my attempted solutions in a seaparate post.
 
Last edited:
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The Gibbs Sum or grand sum is given by

for this problem at least...
z = \sum_{N=0}^{1} \sum_{s(0)}^{s(1)}} \exp\left(\frac{N\mu-\epsilon_{s(N)}}{\tau}\right)

which comes out to

z = \sum_{N=0}^{1} \exp(\frac{N\mu}{\tau}) + \exp\left(\frac{N\mu-\epsilon_{s(N)}}{\tau}\right)

whic his

z = \exp(0) + \exp(\frac{\mu}{\tau}) + \exp(\frac{\mu-\epsilon}{\tau}
a term is missing because there is NO energy contribution by the s(0) state.

also we defined lambda like \lambda = \exp(\mu/\tau}

so
z = 1 + \lambda + \lambda \exp(\epsilon/\tau)

for b) similar concept applies

c) What is the diff between <N> and <N(epsilon)>?? Is N(epsilon)_ the number of particles whose energy actually contributes??

d) &lt;\epsilon_{s(N)}&gt; = \frac{\sum_{N=0}^{1} \sum_{s(0)}^{s(1)} \epsilon_{s(N)} \exp((N\mu-\epsilon)/\tau)) }{z}

&lt;\epsilon_{s(N)}&gt; = \sum_{N=0}^{1} \frac{\epsilon_{s(N)}\exp(\frac{N\mu-\epsilon}{\tau})}{z}

&lt;\epsilon_{s(N)}&gt; = \exp(\frac{\mu-\epsilon}{\tau})}{z} = \lambda\exp(-\epsilon/\tau)

e) i Dont quite understand

are they saying that we should accommodate N=1 only?? And N=0 is no more valid
 
Last edited:
c) <N> is the average number of particles in the system, all energies included. <N(epsilon)> is the average number of particles with the particular energy epsilon in the system.
 
d) The possible combinations are N=0, E=0; N=1, E=0; N=1, E=epsilon. You are on the right track in your first two attempts, so I think you should be able to figure it out from here.
 
Last edited:

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