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Einstein’s Approach to Statistical Mechanics: The 1902–04 Papers
- Source :
- Journal of Statistical Physics. 167:1020-1038
- Publication Year :
- 2016
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2016.
-
Abstract
- We summarize the papers published by Einstein in the Annalen der Physik in the years 1902-04 on the derivation of the properties of thermal equilibrium on the basis of the mechanical equations of motion and of the calculus of probabilities. We point out the line of thought that led Einstein to an especially economical foundation of the discipline, and to focus on fluctuations of the energy as a possible tool for establishing the validity of this foundation. We also sketch a comparison of Einstein's approach with that of Gibbs, suggesting that although they obtained similar results, they had different motivations and interpreted them in very different ways.<br />Comment: 22 pages, submitted to JSP
- Subjects :
- Thermal equilibrium
Basis (linear algebra)
Physics - History and Philosophy of Physics
Equations of motion
Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Statistical mechanics
01 natural sciences
Sketch
010305 fluids & plasmas
Theoretical physics
symbols.namesake
0103 physical sciences
symbols
Einstein
010306 general physics
Focus (optics)
Mathematical Physics
Mathematics
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15729613 and 00224715
- Volume :
- 167
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Statistical Physics
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....789ef1123d20791ed45013f2e718da6b