English

Evaluating the partition function for systems with long range interactions

Condensed Matter 2009-10-31 v4 Astrophysics Plasma Physics

Abstract

We express the partition function for an equilibrium system of interacting particles in the canonical ensemble as a functional integration over the particles' density field. We outline a method to evaluate the partition function by expanding around a saddle point. The saddle point is shown to be the solution of the equivalent mean-field theory. Leading corrections to the mean-field theory takes the form of a Gaussian integral.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9902280,
  title  = {Evaluating the partition function for systems with long range interactions},
  author = {Tong Zhou},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9902280},
  year   = {2009}
}