ОМЕ THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS 1.1 INTRODUCTION: THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS OF THE PERFECT GAS Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics,

ОМЕ
THERMODYNAMICS AND
STATISTICAL MECHANICS
1.1
INTRODUCTION: THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL
MECHANICS OF THE PERFECT GAS
Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical
mechanics, died in 1906, his own hand. Paul Ehrenfest, carrying on the
work, died similarly in 1933, Now itis our turn to study statistical mechanics.
Perhaps it will be wise to approach the subject cautiously. We will begin
considering the simplest meaningful example, the perfect gas, in order
to get the central concepts sorted out, In Chap. 2 we will return to complete
the solution of that problem, and the results will provide the foundation of
Much of the rest of the book.
The quantum mechanical solution for the energy levels of a particle in а
box
(with periodic boundary conditions) is