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A variational method is developed for calculating the thermodynamic potential of quantum-mechanical many-body systems with pair-wise interactions. The method is based on Peierls' theorem and yields an...
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Statistical Theory of the Energy Levels of Complex Systems. II
The distribution function of spacings S between nearest neighbors, in a long series of energy levels with average spacing D, is studied. The statistical properties of S are defined in terms of an ense...

Statistical Theory of the Energy Levels of Complex Systems. I

J. Math. Phys. 3, 140 (1962); doi:10.1063/1.1703773

Issue Date: January 1962

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Freeman J. Dyson
Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey
New kinds of statistical ensemble are defined, representing a mathematical idealization of the notion of ``all physical systems with equal probability.'' Three such ensembles are studied in detail, based mathematically upon the orthogonal, unitary, and symplectic groups. The orthogonal ensemble is relevant in most practical circumstances, the unitary ensemble applies only when time-reversal invariance is violated, and the symplectic ensemble applies only to odd-spin systems without rotational symmetry. The probability-distributions for the energy levels are calculated in the three cases. Repulsion between neighboring levels is strongest in the symplectic ensemble and weakest in the orthogonal ensemble. An exact mathematical correspondence is found between these eigenvalue distributions and the statistical mechanics of a one-dimensional classical Coulomb gas at three different temperatures. An unproved conjecture is put forward, expressing the thermodynamic variables of the Coulomb gas in closed analytic form as functions of temperature. By means of general group-theoretical arguments, the conjecture is proved for the three temperatures which are directly relevant to the eigenvalue distribution problem. The electrostatic analog is exploited in order to deduce precise statements concerning the entropy, or degree of irregularity, of the eigenvalue distributions. Comparison of the theory with experimental data will be made in a subsequent paper. ©1962 The American Institute of Physics
History: Received September 15, 1961
Permalink: http://link.aip.org/link/?JMAPAQ/3/140/1
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EDITORIALLY RELATED

  1. Statistical Theory of the Energy Levels of Complex Systems. II
    Freeman J. Dyson
    J. Math. Phys. 3, 157 (1962)
  2. Statistical Theory of the Energy Levels of Complex Systems. III
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    J. Math. Phys. 3, 166 (1962)

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0022-2488 (print)   1089-7658 (online)
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REFERENCES (24)
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