Quantum Statistical Physics - A New Approach

Abstract

The new scheme employed (throughout the thermodynamic phase space), in the statistical thermodynamic investigation of classical systems, is extended to quantum systems. Quantum Nearest Neighbor Probability Density Functions are formulated (in a manner analogous to the classical case) to provide a new quantum approach for describing structure at the microscopic level, as well as characterize the thermodynamic properties of material systems. A major point of this paper is that it relates the free energy of an assembly of interacting particles to Quantum Nearest Neighbor Probability Density Functions. Also. the methods of this paper reduces to a great extent, the degree of difficulty of the original equilibrium quantum statistical thermodynamic problem without compromising the accuracy of results. Application to the simple case of dilute, weakly degenerate gases has been outlined.