3: Classical Ensembles
- Page ID
- 285760
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- 3.3: Canonical Ensemble
- Equilibrium thermodynamics describes systems that are in thermal equilibrium. In an ensemble picture, this can be considered by assuming that the system is in contact with a very large— for mathematical purposes infinitely large— heat bath. Because of this, the individual systems in the ensemble can differ in energy. However, the probability density distribution in phase space or state space must be consistent with constant temperature T , which is the temperature of the heat bath.