Chemical Potential of One-Dimensional Simple Harmonic Oscillators
Abstract
Expressions for the chemical potential of an Einstein solid, and of ideal Fermi and Bose gases in an external one-dimensional oscillatory trap, are calculated by two different methods and are all found to share the same functional form. These derivations are easier than traditional textbook calculations for an ideal gas in an infinite three-dimensional square well. Furthermore, the results indicate some important features of chemical potential that could promote student learning in an introductory course in statistical mechanics at the undergraduate level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 03, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA551098
Entities
People
- Carl E. Mungan
Organizations
- United States Naval Academy