Shape- and topology-dependent heat capacity of few-particle systems

Abstract

Thermal properties of few-fermion (n < 5) systems are investigated. The dependence of the heat capacity on the topology and shape of the cavity containing the particles is analyzed. It is found that the maximum of the heat capacity, occuring at low T, discussed recently by Toutounji for a system with n = 1 fermions, is even more visible for n = 2, but fades away for n = 3 and 4. For large T, the classical behavior is obtained; however, when T -> 0, the heat capacity tends to zero exponentially, not linearly, as in macroscopic and even mesoscopic systems. The physical relevance of these results is discussed.