Phase statistics and the Hamiltonian

Details Phase statistics and the Hamiltonian Phase statistics and the Hamiltonian

2002-04-29

arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0204600v1

Physics

Condensed Matter

Statistical Mechanics

16 pages, 1 figure

Scientific paper

Modern statistical thermodynamics retains the concepts employed by Landau of the order parameter and a functional depending on it, now called the Hamiltonian. The present paper investigates the limits of validity for the use of the functional to describe the statistical correlations of a thermodynamic phase, particularly in connection with the experimentally accessible scattering of X-rays, electrons and neutrons. Guggenheim's definition for the functional is applied to a generalized system and the associated paradoxes are analyzed. In agreement with Landau's original hypothesis, it is demonstrated that the minimum is equal to the thermodynamic free energy, requiring no fluctuation correction term. Although the fluctuation amplitude becomes large in the vicinity of a second-order phase transition in low dimensionalities, it does not diverge and the equilibrium order parameter remains well defined.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Phase statistics and the Hamiltonian does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Phase statistics and the Hamiltonian, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Phase statistics and the Hamiltonian will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-260525