Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Department of Physics
Statistical Physics-1 (PH41023)
Quiz - 2

Exam date: Saturday 9th October, 2021

Timing exam: 2 PM - 3 PM, submit by 3 : 15 PM

1 Problem 1
A system consisting of 4 identical and distinguishable spin half particle (each having magnitude
of spin magnetic moment µ ) is placed in external uniform magnetic field B~o , find the number of
macrostates, number of microstates and the probability of most probable macrostate ? Write down
the Canonical partition function for the system. Take the energy of each spin particle to be given
by the product −µBo when the spin is aligned with the magnetic field and µBo when it is opposite
to the magnetic field. [2 marks]

2 Problem 2
What is the probability that at temperature T, a system having 2 normal modes of vibration
(frequency ω1 and 3ω1 ) has energy less than or equal to 3.5~ω1 ? The vibrational partition
function of this system is given by,
"∞ # " ∞ #
X −~ω1 (n+ 21 ) X −3~ω1 (m+ 21 )
Q(T ) = e kB T × e kB T (1)
n=0 m=0

−~ω1
Express your answer in terms of x where x = e 2kB T . [2 marks]

3 Problem 3
The eigenstates of a two level system are given by,
 
1
|φ1 i = , and (2)
0
 
0
|φ2 i = . (3)
1

1
Two quantum states of this system are constructed and are given by |ψ1 i = √1 |φ1 i+ √12 |φ2 i exp(−iωt)
√ 2
and |ψ2 i = 12 |φ1 i + 23 |φ2 i exp(iωt). The incoherent superposition of |ψ1 i and |ψ2 i results in a
new state which is given by a density matrix ρ̂ defined as:

ρ̂ ≡ 2/5 |ψ1 i hψ1 | + 3/5 |ψ2 i hψ2 | (4)

Find matrix form of ρ̂ in the eigenstate representation, the T r[ρ̂2 ] and the Entropy of the mixed
state ? [2 marks]

4 Problem 4
What will be the average energy per particle for a system in equilibrium at temperature T, consisting
of two indistinguishable particles each of which can occupy energy levels of energies 0 and 2  . The
degeneracy of both the levels each two. Use Classical Statistics (Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics) to
deal with indistinguishable particles. [2 marks]

5 Problem 5
A system of 5 localized and independent quantum oscillators is in contact with a thermal reservoir
at temperature T. The energy levels of a single oscillators are given by:
En = ~ωo (n + 1/2), n = 1, 3, 5.... Find the average internal energy of the system ? [2 marks]

6 Problem 6
The Hamiltonian matrix for a quantum mechanical system can be written as,
 
0 1 0
H = −gB 1 0 1 , (5)
0 1 0

where g, B are positive constants. The system is in thermal equilibrium at temperature T, the
average energy of the system is given by ? [2 marks]

7 Problem 7
Consider a system of N distinguishable particles (in which particles can move in 1-Dimensional
segment q=0 and q= L) in thermal equilibrium at temperature T. The single particle Hamiltonian
p2
is given by H = 2m − α ln (q/Lo ), where α is a positive constant and Lo is characteristic length.
The partition function of the system is given by ? [2 marks]

2
8 Problem 8
A system has 2 energy levels of energies 0 and  with degeneracy 1 and 3 respectively. Find the
temperature at which the probability of finding the system in the lower energy is equal to 1/2 ? [2
marks]

9 Problem 9
Given a density matrix/operator ρ̂, show the following,
(a) All the Eigenvalues of the matrix ρ̂ are positive and less than equal to 1. [2 marks]
(b) Show that hψ| ρ̂ |ψi ≥ 0 and hψ| ρ̂ − ρ̂2 |ψi ≥ 0. Where |ψi denotes the wave function of a
quantum state. [2 marks]