Use Stirling's approximation to find an approximate formula for the multiplicity of a two-state paramagnet. Simplify this formula in the limit NNto obtain ΩNe/NN. This result should look very similar to your answer to Problem 2.17; explain why these two systems, in the limits considered, are essentially the same.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The two state of paramagnet and the system is formaly equivalent to an Einstein solid

ΩNeNN

Step by step solution

01

Two state of paramagnet 

Consider two-state paramagnet with Nmagnetic dipoles and Nenergy quanta, since the system is formally equivalent to an Einstein solid (we're distributing the energy quanta among dipoles rather than oscillators). The multiplicity of the paramagnet is then:

ΩN',N=N+N-1N

Writing out the binomial coefficient:

ΩN,N=N+N-1N=N+N-1!N!(N-1)!

since N>>N, and they are large numbers, so:

ΩN,N=N+N!N!N!

take the natural logarithms for both sides:

ln(Ω)=lnN+N!N!N!

but, we have these logarithmic relations:

lnab=ln(a)-ln(b)ln(ab)=ln(a)+ln(b)

02

Logarithm

ln(Ω)=lnN+N!N!N!=lnN+N!-ln(N!)-lnN!

use Stirling's approximation for the logarithm of a factorial:

ln(n!)nln(n)-n

so,we get:

ln(Ω)N+NlnN+N-N+N-Nln(N)+N-NlnN+N

ln(Ω)N+NlnN+N-Nln(N)-NlnN

If we now use the assumption that N>>N, we get:

ln(Ω)N+NlnNNN+1-Nln(N)-NlnN

we factored out Nfrom the first logarithm:

ln(Ω)N+Nln(N)+lnNN+1-Nln(N)-NlnN

but, we have the logarithmic relation:

lnab+1ab

for b>>a, so:

03

To neglect second term 

ln(Ω)Nln(N)+NNN+Nln(N)+NNN-Nln(N)-NlnNln(Ω)Nln(N)+N2N+N-NlnN

ln(Ω)N+Nln(N)+NN-Nln(N)-NlnN

ln(Ω)Nln(N)-lnN+N2N+N

but, =ln(Ω)NlnNN+N, so:

ln(Ω)NlnNN+N2N+N

use the assumption thatN>>N, to neglect the second term:

ln(Ω)NlnNN+N
04

Exponentiating both sides 

Exponentiating both sides this equation gives the approximate value for Ω, so:

e(ln(Ω))eNlnNN+NΩelnNNeNΩelnNNNeN\

but,e^{\ln(x)}=x, SO:

ΩNNNeN

ΩNeNN

The corresponding result in N<<Ncase is:

ΩNeNN

which could have been predicted easily, sinceNandNappear symmetrically in the following approximation:

ΩN,N=N+N!N!N!

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