Bose–Einstein Statistics

Abstract

The properties of the ideal Bose gas are calculated from the integral equations for the energy and the number of particles as a function of the temperature and chemical potential. It is shown that the integral equations break down below the Einstein temperature that corresponds to the transition to the low-temperature state. The lowest single-particle energy level must be treated explicitly to get the proper equations. With the inclusion of the lowest single-particle energy level, the low-temperature behavior is calculated. The occupation of the lowest level becomes comparable to the total number of particles in the system below the Einstein temperature, and equal to the total number of particles at zero temperature. A numerical solution to the properties of the Bose gas is discussed, and the detailed calculations are assigned to the problems at the end of the chapter.