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Boltzmann Distribution Derivation

This document discusses maximizing the entropy of a system by finding the most likely distribution of particles among single-particle states. It explains that the number of microstates for a configuration [n0, n1, ...] is given by the multinomial coefficient N!/(n0!n1!...). Using Lagrange multipliers and Stirling's approximation, the distribution that maximizes entropy is derived to be the Boltzmann distribution, with nj = e^-α-βφj, where α and β are Lagrange multipliers associated with constraints on the total number of particles and total energy.

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N.Gin labs
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210 views1 page

Boltzmann Distribution Derivation

This document discusses maximizing the entropy of a system by finding the most likely distribution of particles among single-particle states. It explains that the number of microstates for a configuration [n0, n1, ...] is given by the multinomial coefficient N!/(n0!n1!...). Using Lagrange multipliers and Stirling's approximation, the distribution that maximizes entropy is derived to be the Boltzmann distribution, with nj = e^-α-βφj, where α and β are Lagrange multipliers associated with constraints on the total number of particles and total energy.

Uploaded by

N.Gin labs
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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3.2.

1 Maximizing the entropy


Each configuration is specified by a list of occupancy numbers of the single-particle states,
[n0 , n1 , ...], where n0 is the number of particles in the ground state, n1 is the number in the
first state, and so on. There may be many distinct ways of distributing the particles among
the single-particle states that result in the same configuration. Counting all the different
arrangements, i.e., the microstates, for a configuration gives the statistical weight of that
configuration, Ωn .

Question: How many microstates are there for a configuration [n0 , n1 , ...] ?
Answer:
N!
Ωn = Q
j nj !

To find the most-likely configuration, we maximize ln Ωn subject to constraints,


X X
nj = N, j nj = U
j j

Using Lagrange’s method of undetermined multipliers,


" #
∂ X X
ln Ωn − α nj − β j nj = 0 for all j.
∂nj j j

This requires that

∂
ln Ωn − α − βj = 0 for all j.
∂nj

Substituting for Ωn ,

∂
− ln nj ! − α − βj = 0 for all j.
∂nj

For large nj (using Stirling’s approximation),

ln nj + α + βj = 0 for every j,

giving

nj = e−α−βj .

This is the most likely distribution of particles among the single-particle states. It is the
Boltzmann distribution.
The Lagrange multipliers α and β, which are yet to be determined, are associated with the
constraints on the total number of particles N and the total energy U.

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