Statistical Mechanics · Problem 2.7

The Canonical Ensemble — R. K. Pathria

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · harmonic-oscillators-microstates-asymptotic

Problem

Derive an asymptotic expression for the number of ways in which a given energy EE can be distributed among a set of NN one-dimensional harmonic oscillators, the energy eigenvalues of the oscillators being (n+12)ℏω(n + \frac{1}{2})\hbar\omega; n=0,1,2,…n = 0, 1, 2, \ldots, and (ii) the corresponding expression for the ``volume'' of the relevant region of the phase space of this system. Establish the correspondence between the two results, showing that the conversion factor ω0\omega_0 is precisely hNh^N.

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