Lecture

Statistical Thermodynamics: Canonical Partition Function

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

In course

CH-242(b): Statistical mechanics for chemistry

Ce cours construit la base théorique universelle permettant de comprendre les systèmes à grand nombre de particules. Les méthodes introduites sont utilisées pour éclairer de nombreux phénomènes à travers la chimie. ...

Description

This lecture covers the concept of canonical partition function in statistical thermodynamics, explaining how it relates to total energy, state occupancy, and different energy levels within a system. The instructor discusses the significance of the partition function in determining the most probable configurations and the distribution of energy among states.

Instructors (2)

Andreas Osterwalder

EDUCATION: 2002: Dr.sc.nat. (ETH Zurich) 1998: Dipl.Chem. (ETH Zurich) ACADEMIC POSITIONS: since 2015: Senior Scientist at EPFL 2009-2015: SNSF-funded Professor at EPFL 2005-2009: Group leader, Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max-Planck-Society in Berlin (Department of Molecular Physics under Prof. G. Meijer) 2002-2005: Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Berkeley (Group of Prof. D.M.Neumark) 1998-2002: PhD Student at ETHZ (Group of Prof. F.Merkt)

Christopher Scott Reilly

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Physics

Thermodynamics: Statistical mechanics

Related concepts (32)

Entropy (statistical thermodynamics)

The concept entropy was first developed by German physicist Rudolf Clausius in the mid-nineteenth century as a thermodynamic property that predicts that certain spontaneous processes are irreversible or impossible. In statistical mechanics, entropy is formulated as a statistical property using probability theory. The statistical entropy perspective was introduced in 1870 by Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann, who established a new field of physics that provided the descriptive linkage between the macroscopic observation of nature and the microscopic view based on the rigorous treatment of large ensembles of microstates that constitute thermodynamic systems.

Engineering drawing

An engineering drawing is a type of technical drawing that is used to convey information about an object. A common use is to specify the geometry necessary for the construction of a component and is called a detail drawing. Usually, a number of drawings are necessary to completely specify even a simple component. The drawings are linked together by a master drawing or assembly drawing which gives the drawing numbers of the subsequent detailed components, quantities required, construction materials and possibly 3D images that can be used to locate individual items.

Statistical mechanics

In physics, statistical mechanics is a mathematical framework that applies statistical methods and probability theory to large assemblies of microscopic entities. It does not assume or postulate any natural laws, but explains the macroscopic behavior of nature from the behavior of such ensembles. Sometimes called statistical physics or statistical thermodynamics, its applications include many problems in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry, and neuroscience.

Architectural drawing

An architectural drawing or architect's drawing is a technical drawing of a building (or building project) that falls within the definition of architecture. Architectural drawings are used by architects and others for a number of purposes: to develop a design idea into a coherent proposal, to communicate ideas and concepts, to convince clients of the merits of a design, to assist a building contractor to construct it based on design intent, as a record of the design and planned development, or to make a record of a building that already exists.

Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that deals with heat, work, and temperature, and their relation to energy, entropy, and the physical properties of matter and radiation. The behavior of these quantities is governed by the four laws of thermodynamics which convey a quantitative description using measurable macroscopic physical quantities, but may be explained in terms of microscopic constituents by statistical mechanics.

Related lectures (58)

Statistical Thermodynamics: Boltzmann Distribution

Covers the Boltzmann distribution in statistical thermodynamics, focusing on the harmonic oscillator system and analyzing state occupancy with varying temperatures.

Ensembles and Partition Functions

Covers ensembles, partition functions, and distributions in statistical thermodynamics.

Statistical Thermodynamics: Energy States and Convolution

Covers energy states and convolution in statistical thermodynamics, with an example on Benzene.

Statistical Thermodynamics: Microcanonical and Canonical Ensembles

Explores the microcanonical and canonical ensembles, historical contributions, macrostates, microstates, and particle arrangements in statistical thermodynamics.

Statistical Thermodynamics: Density of States