For a system of particles at room temperature, how large must ϵ-μbe before the Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein, and Boltzmann distributions agree within 1%? Is this condition ever violated for the gases in our atmosphere? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified

As far as gases in the atmosphere are concerned, the condition was never violated.

Step by step solution

01

Given Information 

The Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein and Boltzmann distribution lies within 1%of1.

02

Explanation

The quantum volume expression is:

vQ=h2πmkT3

h=Planck's constant,

m=mass of gas molecule,

k=gas constant

T=temperature

vQ=quantum volume.

The pressure of gas molecule will be denoted by,

P0=kTZinmeμ/TTv

Zint=partition function,

μ=chemical potential

P0=pressure at fixed temperature.

Substitute 2h2πmkT3for vQin above expression,

Rearrange the terms,

-μ/kT=lnkTZintP02πmkTh3..(1)

03

Explanation

The Bose-Einstein distribution's expression is:

n¯BE=1e(xμ)kT1

ε=energy at any state and

n¯BE=Bose-Einstein distribution.

The Fermi-Dirac distribution's expression is:

n¯FD=1e(k-μ)kT+1

n¯FDBose-Einstein distribution.

Equation (I) divided by equation (II) is:

n¯BEn¯FD=e(xμ)dT+1e(xμ)XT1=1+e(cμ)kT1e(cμ)kT1+2e(εμ)/kT

Here, (εμ)/kT1so, the above approximation is valid.

04

Explanation

Calculation:

The value of e-(ε-μ)/kTShould be less than 1/200for the ratio to be within 1%of 1 ; it means the value (ε-μ)/kT>ln200=5.3.

The value of εcannot be negative.

So, -μ/kTmust be greater than 5.3

Substitute localid="1651131552143" 1.38×10-23J/K=k

300K=T

4.65×1026kg=m

localid="1651131671206" 6.63×1034J.s

50=Zint

105Pa=Pin equation (I).

μ/kT=ln1.38×1023J/K(300K)(50)105Pa2π4.65×1026kg1.38×1023J/K(300K)6.63×1034Js3=ln3×108=ln3+8ln10=19.52

This indicates that the condition is valid since -mu/kTis greater than 5.3.

No violation of the condition occurred as far as atmospheric gases are concerned.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

For a system of bosons at room temperature, compute the average occupancy of a single-particle state and the probability of the state containing 0,1,2,3bosons, if the energy of the state is

(a) 0.001eVgreater than μ

(b) 0.01eVgreater than μ

(c) 0.1eVgreater than μ

(d) 1eVgreater than μ

In a real semiconductor, the density of states at the bottom of the conduction band will differ from the model used in the previous problem by a numerical factor, which can be small or large depending on the material. Let us, therefore, write for the conduction band g(ϵ)=g0cϵ-ϵcwhere g0cis a new normalization constant that differs from g0by some fudge factor. Similarly, write gat the top of the valence band in terms of a new normalization constant g0v.

(a) Explain why, if g0vg0c, the chemical potential will now vary with temperature. When will it increase, and when will it decrease?

(b) Write down an expression for the number of conduction electrons, in terms of T,μ,candg0cSimplify this expression as much as possible, assuming ϵc-μkT.

(c) An empty state in the valence band is called a hole. In analogy to part (b), write down an expression for the number of holes, and simplify it in the limit μ-ϵvkT.

(d) Combine the results of parts (b) and (c) to find an expression for the chemical potential as a function of temperature.

(e) For silicon, g0cg0=1.09andg0vg0=0.44*.Calculate the shift inµ for silicon at room temperature.

Sometimes it is useful to know the free energy of a photon gas.

(a) Calculate the (Helmholtz) free energy directly from the definition

(Express the answer in terms of T' and V.)

(b) Check the formula S=-(F/T)Vfor this system.

(c) Differentiate F with respect to V to obtain the pressure of a photon gas. Check that your result agrees with that of the previous problem.

(d) A more interesting way to calculate F is to apply the formula F=-kTlnZ separately to each mode (that is, each effective oscillator), then sum over all modes. Carry out this calculation, to obtain

F=8πV(kT)4(hc)30x2ln1-e-xdx

Integrate by parts, and check that your answer agrees with part (a).

Consider a system consisting of a single hydrogen atom/ion, which has two possible states: unoccupied (i.e., no electron present) and occupied (i.e., one electron present, in the ground state). Calculate the ratio of the probabilities of these two states, to obtain the Saha equation, already derived in Section 5.6 Treat the electrons as a monotonic ideal gas, for the purpose of determining μ. Neglect the fact that an electron has two independent spin states.

(a) Estimate (roughly) the total power radiated by your body, neglecting any energy that is returned by your clothes and environment. (Whatever the color of your skin, its emissivity at infrared wavelengths is quite close to 1; almost any nonmetal is a near-perfect blackbody at these wavelengths.)

(b) Compare the total energy radiated by your body in one day (expressed in kilocalories) to the energy in the food you cat. Why is there such a large discrepancy?

(c) The sun has a mass of 2×1030kgand radiates energy at a rate of 3.9×1026watts. Which puts out more power per units mass-the sun or your body?

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