Statistical Mechanics · Problem 4.4

Formulation of Quantum Statistics — R. K. Pathria

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · grand-canonical-particle-number-distribution

Problem

"The probability that a system in the grand canonical ensemble has exactly NN particles is given by p(N)=zNQN(V,T)Z(z,V,T)."p(N) = \frac{z^N Q_N(V, T)}{\mathscr{Z}(z, V, T)}." Verify this statement and show that in the case of a classical, ideal gas the distribution of particles among the members of a grand canonical ensemble is identically a Poisson distribution. Calculate the root-mean-square value of (ΔN)(\Delta N) for this system both from the general formula (4.5.3) and from the Poisson distribution, and show that the two results are the same.

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