PH-105 Assignment Sheet - 2 (Quantum Mechanics)

Umang Mathur

1. Show that the Einstein’s expression of specific heat gives a value of 3R at high tempera-
tures and tends to zero as temperature tends to zero.

Solution :

Einsteins’ expression of energy is given as follows:

hνE
ε = 3NA hνE
e kT −1
Hence, Specific heat (Cv ), is given by

∂ε
Cv =
∂T
hνE
hνE 2 e kT
= 3R( ) hνE
kT (e kT − 1)2

hνE
Let kT = α, then we have

α2 eα
Cv = 3R
(eα − 1)2

Now, as T → ∞, α → 0, hence,

α2 eα
lim Cv = 3R lim
T →∞ α→0 (eα
− 1)2
2αeα + α2 eα
= 3R lim
α→0 2eα (eα − 1)

2α + α2
= 3R lim
α→0 2eα − 2
1+α
= 3R lim
α→0 eα
∴ Cv = 3R

Again, as T → 0, α → ∞, hence,

α2 eα
lim Cv = 3R lim
T →0 α→∞ (eα − 1)2

2αeα + α2 eα
= 3R lim
α→∞ 2eα (eα − 1)

2α + α2
= 3R lim
α→∞ 2eα − 2
1+α
= 3R lim
α→∞ eα
= 3R lim e−α
α→∞
∴ Cv = 0