Callen H.B - Thermodynamics And An Introduction To Thermostatistics · Problem 16.5-7

ENTROPY AND DISORDER; GENERALIZED CANONICAL FORMULATIONS

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · coupled-harmonic-oscillators-canonical

Problem

Two simple harmonic oscillators, each of natural frequency ω\omega, are coupled in such a way that there is no interaction between them if the oscillators have different quantum numbers, whereas their combined energy is (2n+1)ℏω+Δ(2n + 1)\hbar\omega + \Delta if the oscillators have the same quantum number nn. The system is in thermal equilibrium at temperature TT. Find the probability that the two oscillators have identical quantum numbers. Find and interpret the zero-temperature limit of your result, for all values of Δ\Delta.

Related theory

Browse the problem library