Finite Quantum Grand Canonical Ensemble and Temperature from Single Electron Statistics in a Mesoscopic Device

Abstract

I present a theoretical model of a quantum statistical ensemble for which, unlike in conventional physics, the total number of particles is extremely small. The thermodynamical quantities are calculated by taking a small $N$ by virtue of the orthodicity of canonical ensemble. The finite quantum grand partition function of a Fermi-Dirac system is calculated. The model is applied to a quantum dot coupled with a small two dimensional electron system. Such system consists of an alternatively single and double occupied electron system confined in a quantum dot, which exhanges one electron with a small $N$ two dimensional electron reservoir. The analytic determination of the temperature of a $(1\leftrightarrow 2)$ electron system and the role of ergodicity are discussed. The generalized temperature expression in the small $N$ regime recovers the usual temperature expression by taking the limit of $N\to\infty$ of the electron bath.