Approaching the Thermodynamic Limit of an Ideal Gas

TL;DR

This paper investigates how particle-wall interactions influence the partition function of an ideal gas, comparing classical and quantum models to better understand the approach to the thermodynamic limit.

Contribution

It introduces a comparison between classical and quantum models of particle-wall correlations within the canonical ensemble, highlighting their effects on the partition function.

Findings

Particle-wall correlations vanish in the thermodynamic limit.

Classical and quantum models show different behaviors in finite systems.

Understanding these correlations refines the approach to the thermodynamic limit.

Abstract

For a gas confined in a container, particle-wall interactions produce modifications to the partition function involving the average surface density of gas particles. While such correlations have a vanishing effect in the thermodynamic limit, examining them is beneficial for a sharper understanding of how the limit is attained. We contrast a classical and a quantum model of particle-wall correlations within the canonical ensemble.