A1.14
(i) Each particle in a system of identical fermions has a set of energy levels with degeneracy , where . Derive the expression
for the mean number of particles with energy . Explain the physical significance of the parameters and .
(ii) The spatial eigenfunctions of energy for an electron of mass moving in two dimensions and confined to a square box of side are
where . Calculate the associated energies.
Hence show that when is large the number of states in energy range is
How is this formula modified when electron spin is taken into account?
The box is filled with electrons in equilibrium at temperature . Show that the chemical potential is given by
where is the number of particles per unit area in the box.
What is the value of in the limit ?
Calculate the total energy of the lowest state of the system of particles as a function of and .