Chapter 4- Answers to selected exercises

1. Consider a model of Hamiltonian

localized magnetic ions, given by the spin

where the spin variable may assume the values or for all (see exercise 8 of Chapter 2). Given the total energy , use the expression for the number of accessible microstates, to obtain the entropy per

particle, , where . Obtain an expression for the specific heat in terms of the temperature . Sketch a graph of versus . Check the existence of a broad maximum associated with the Schottky effect. Write an expression for the entropy as a function of temperature. What are the limiting values of the entropy for and ? The entropy per particle is given by

where

. Thus, we have the equation of state

from which we have

where respect to . For

. The specific heat is given by the derivative of , ; for , .

with

2. In the solid of Einstein, we may introduce a volume coordinate if we make the phenomenological assumption that the fundamental frequency as a function of is given by =

where , and are positive constants. Obtain expressions for the expansion coefficient and the isothermal compressibility of this model system. As , the entropy of Einstein's solid can be written as a

function of energy and volume, . From the equations of state, it is straightforward to obtain the expansion coefficient and the compressibility.

3. Consider the semiclassical model of particles with two energy levels ( 0 and ). As in the previous exercise, suppose that the volume of the gas may be introduced by the assumption that the energy of the excited level depends on ,

where

and

are positive constants. Obtain an equation of state for the , and an expression for the isothermal compressibility plays the role of the Grneisen parameter of the

pressure,

(note that the constant

solid). Again, as , we can write . From the equations of state, it is easy to write the isothermal compressibility.

4. The total number of the accessible microscopic states of the Boltzmann gas, with energy and number of particles , may be written as

with the restrictions and

Except for an additive constant, show that the entropy per particle is given by

where is the set of occupation numbers at equilibrium. Using the continuum limit of the Boltzmann gas, show that the entropy depends on temperature according to a term of the form .

5. Consider a lattice gas of particles distributed among cells (with ). Suppose that each cell may be either empty or occupied by a single particle. The number of microscopic states of this system will be given by

Obtain an expression for the entropy per particle, , where From this fundamental equation, obtain an expression for the equation of state . Write an expansion of in terms of the density . Show

that the first term of this expansion gives the Boyle law of the ideal gases. Sketch a graph of density and , where is the chemical potential, in terms of the

. What is the behavior of the chemical potential in the limits ? The entropy particle is given by

Thus, we have the equation of state

Note that Bolyles's law is already given by the first term is this expansion. To find . , we write , and take the derivative with respect to