Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences · Problem 4.20

FUNCTIONS OF A COMPLEX VARIABLE — Mary Boas

Mathematics — Methods · statistical-mechanics-bose-einstein-proof

Problem

(a) In Example 5, a mathematical model is discussed which claims to give a distribution of identical balls into boxes in such a way that all distinguishable arrangements are equally probable (Bose-Einstein statistics). Prove this by showing that the probability of a distribution of NN balls into nn boxes (according to this model) with N1N_1 balls in the first box, N2N_2 in the second, ⋯\cdots, NnN_n in the nnth, is 1/C(n−1+N,N)1/C(n - 1 + N, N) for any set of numbers NiN_i such that ∑i=1nNi=N\sum_{i=1}^{n} N_i = N. (b) Show that the model in (a) leads to Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics if the drawn card is replaced (but no extra card added) and to Fermi-Dirac statistics if the drawn card is not replaced. Hint: Calculate in each case the number of possible arrangements of the balls in the boxes. Do first the problem of 4 particles in 6 boxes as in the example, and then do NN particles in nn boxes (n>Nn > N) to get the results in Problem 19.

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