1. Review Of Statistical Mechanics
ChE 553 Lecture 07
Review Of Statistical Mechanics

2. Objective For Today Go over some background statistical mechanics
Define ensemble, partition function,

3. Historical Introduction
Maxwell
Stat mech developed by Maxwell, Boltzman, Clausius, Gibbs.
Question: if we have individual molecules – how can there be a pressure, enthalpy, etc?

4. Key Concept In Stat Mech
Idea: macroscopic properties average of microscopic properties: macroscopic properties of function F = the time average of F (Take a series of snapshots of the system and average the properties over all of the snapshots).

5. Important Concept Can Replace Time Average With Ensemble Average:
Replace system with a set of systems "identical" to the first and average over all of the systems.
Identical - same thermodynamic state

6. Statistical Ensemble
We call the set of systems “the statistical ensemble”

7. Common Statistical Ensembles
Canonical ensemble - set of all systems with a fixed number of molecules in equilibrium with a heat bath
Grand canonical ensemble - set of all systems in equilibrium with a source of molecules a fixed chemical potential
Micro canonical ensemble - systems consisting of individual molecules or groups of molecules in equilibrium with a heat bath.

8. All Thermodynamic Properties Can Be Calculated With Any Ensemble
We choose the one most convenient. PVT properties – canonical ensemble Vapor-liquid equilibrium – grand canonical ensemble.

9. Can Create Ensemble Of Anything
Simulate the behavior of a refinery (is it robust).

10. Example: Consider a System of Oscillators With 9 States Given in the Table Below
Construct an algorithm to step through the cannonical ensemble and calculate the average energy

11. Monte Carlo Procedure

12. Consider the System of Oscillators Described in Example 6.E
The canonical ensemble for this example is a set of systems identical to the first.
Can represent that ensemble via a series of boxes.
Each box is labeled with the number n, the quantum number for the system, where n goes from one to nine.
Figure 6.G1 Part of the canonical ensemble for the example above.

13. Figure 6.G1 Part of the canonical ensemble for the example above.
Monte Carlo Method
Need an algorithm to step through these boxes.
Results will eventually converge to the exact result in the limit of a large enough number of boxes.
Figure 6.G1 Part of the canonical ensemble for the example above.

14. Metropolis [1953] Algorithm
Start at some system in the ensemble.
Move to the next system in the ensemble. That system may have the same state or a different state. See Figure 6.G1
Use and algorithm to calculate the next state
Figure 6.G1 Part of the canonical ensemble for the example above.

15. Method to Choose the Next State Via the Metropolis Algorithm
Choose a second state either at random, or by incrementing/decrementing one of the quantum numbers, or by moving one of the atoms.
If energy goes down assume that the next box is in that state.
If energy goes up to calculate exp(-U) and rand, where rand is a random number between 0 and 1.
If exp (-U) > rand assume that the next box is in the new state.
If exp (-U) < rand assume that the new box has the same state as the previous box.
Repeat.

16. Metropolis Algorithm Continued
Metropolis et al. proved that after a long time, the distribution of states generated by such a procedure is equal to the exact distribution of states.
This is called the Monte Carlo method to calculate properties.

17. Monte Carlo Procedure In Excel

18. Results At 1000 K

19. Results At 1000 K
Instantaneous Energy
Average energy

20. Results at 300 K

21. Analytical Properties Of The Canonical And Grand Canonical Ensemble

22. Analytical Properties Cont. For Canonical Ensemble:
(6.11)

23. For Grand Canonical Ensemble:
(6.12)
with:
(6.13)

24. Partition Function Definitions
(6.15)
(6.16)

25. Partition Functions Are State Variables
If you know the volume, temperature, and the energy levels of the system you can calculate the partition function.
If you know T and the partition function you can calculate all other thermodynamic properties via a Maxwell relationship.
Thus, stat mech provides a link between quantum and thermo. If you know the energy levels you can calculate partition functions and then calculate thermodynamic properties.

26. Partition Functions Properties
Partition functions easily calculate from the properties of the molecules in the system (i.e. energy levels, atomic masses etc).
Convenient thermodynamic variables. If you know the properties of all of the molecules, you can calculate the partition functions.
Can then use Maxwell’s Equations and calculate any thermodynamic property of the system.

27. Maxwell Relationships For Partition Functions
(6.40)
(6.59)
(6.60)
(6.61)

28. Maxwell Relationships Cont.
(6.62)
(6.65)
(6.63)
(6.64)

29. Equilibrium Constant
The equlibrium constant for a reaction K, the equilibrium constant for the reaction A+B C+D is given by
(6.7)

30. Key Concepts From Stat Mech
All thermodynamic properties an average. Internal energy of molecules in a box - average of the internal energies of each molecule, which is then also averaged over time.
There are alternative ways to compute the averages.
- Time average
- Ensemble average (defined later)
Always give the same answer

31. Summary Continued
When you do statistical mechanics, you use all of the normal state variables that you learned about in thermodynamics: pressure, temperature, volume, free energy, enthalpy … In addition there are some special state variables called partition functions.
The partition functions are like any other state variable. The partition functions are completely defined if you know the state of the system. You can also work backwards, so if you know the partition functions, you can calculate any other state variable of the system.

32. Summary Continued
Partition functions can be easily calculated from the properties of the molecules in the system (i.e. energy levels, atomic masses etc).
Convenient thermodynamic variables. If you know the properties of all of the molecules, you can calculate the partition functions.
Can then use Maxwell’s Equations and calculate any thermodynamic property of the system.