Abstract
We present an alternative formulation of Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics which follows the method based on the maximum statistical entropy principle in Information Theory combined with the use of Massieu–Planck functions. The different statistical ensembles are obtained by a suitable restriction of the whole set of available microstates. The main advantage is that all of the equations that relate the average values with derivatives of the partition function are formally identical in the different ensembles. Moreover, Einstein's fluctuation formula is also derived within the same framework. This provides a suitable starting point for the calculation of fluctuations of extensive and intensive variables in any statistical ensemble.
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Planes, A., Vives, E. Entropic Formulation of Statistical Mechanics. Journal of Statistical Physics 106, 827–850 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013778810460
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013778810460