Callen H.B - Thermodynamics And An Introduction To Thermostatistics · Problem 16.8-1

ENTROPY AND DISORDER; GENERALIZED CANONICAL FORMULATIONS

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · electromagnetic-radiation-zero-point-energy

Problem

Show that including the ``zero-point energies'' of the electromagnetic modes (i.e.,

E_n = (n + 1/2)\hbar\omega

) leads to an infinite energy density

U/V

! This infinite energy density is presumably constant and unchangeable and hence physically unobservable.