lOMoARcPSD|4535981

AEP 4320 Assignment 4

Statistical Thermodynamics (Cornell University)

StuDocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

Downloaded by sudip shiwakoti (phenomenalking49@gmail.com)
 lOMoARcPSD|4535981

AEP/PHYS 4230 - STATISTICAL THERMODYNAMICS

Assignment #4 September 18, 2018

Due 5:00 PM September 25, 2018

(Submit via the AEP/Phys 4230 Homework slot close to Clark 244)

Reading:
Bowley and Sanchez, Chapter 5
(Supplement/Alternative) Kittel and Kroemer: Chapter 5, Reif Sections 2.5, 3.12, 6.8-6.10

1. A one-dimensional harmonic oscillator has an infinite series of equally spaced energy states,
with ε = s!ω , where s is a positive integer or zero, and ω is the frequency of the oscillator. Here
we have chosen the zero of energy to be at the state s = 0, that is we are not including the zero
point energy of the oscillator.

a) Show that for this harmonic oscillator the Helmholtz free energy is

F = k BT ln[1− exp(−!ω / k BT )]

Note that at high temperatures such that k BT ≫ "ω the argument of the logarithm can be
expanded to obtain F ! k BT ln("ω / k BT )

(b) Show that the entropy is

!ω / k BT
S = kB − k ln[1− exp(−!ω / k BT )]
exp(!ω / k BT − 1 B

(c) Calculate the heat capacity C of the harmonic oscillator, and obtain limiting expressions for
it in the limits k BT ≫ "ω and k BT ≪ "ω .

2. Two simple harmonic oscillators, each of natural frequency ω, are coupled in such a way that
there is no interaction between them if the oscillators have different quantum numbers, whereas
their combined energy is (2n + 1)!ω + Δ if the oscillators have the same quantum number n. The
system is in thermal equilibrium at temperature T. Find the probability that the two oscillators
have identical quantum numbers. Find and interpret the zero-temperature limit of your result, for
all values of Δ.

3. DNA, the genetic molecule deoxyribonucleic acid, exists as a twisted pair of polymer
molecules, each with N monomer units. The two polymer molecules are cross-linked by N "base
pairs." It requires energy Δ to unlink each base pair, and a base pair can be unlinked only if it
has a neighboring base pair that is already unlinked (or if it is at the end of the molecule). Find

Downloaded by sudip shiwakoti (phenomenalking49@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|4535981

the probability that n pairs are unlinked at temperature T if:

(a) One end of the molecule is prevented from unlinking, so that the molecule can "unwind"
from one end only.

(b) The molecule can unwind from both ends.

4. The following describes a simple two-dimensional model of a situation that actually occurs in
some crystalline materials and thus is of importance in condensed matter physics.
A solid at absolute temperature T contains N negatively charged impurity ions per cm3 , these
ions replacing some of the ordinary atoms of the solid. The solid as a whole is of course,
electronically neutral. This is so because each negative ion with charge -e has in its vicinity one
positive ion with charge +e. The positive ion is small and thus free to move between lattice sites.

In the absence of an external electric field it will, therefore, be found with equal probability in
any one of the four equidistant sites surrounding the stationary negative ion (see diagram; the
lattice spacing is a). If a small electrical field E is applied along the x direction, calculate the
electric polarization, i.e., the mean electric dipole moment per unit volume along the x direction.

5. Consider a “lattice gas” model of a system in which there are N sites, each of which can be
empty or occupied by one particle, the energy being 0 for no particle on a site and ε for one
particle. Each particle when located on a lattice site has a magnetic moment µ which in the
presence of a magnetic field B leads to a shift in energy to either µB or -µB.

(a). What is the partition function of the system at temperature T?

(b) What are the mean energy U = N ε and the magnetic moment m = N µ of the lattice gas?

Downloaded by sudip shiwakoti (phenomenalking49@gmail.com)