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edit* never mind figured it out thanks.
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A free Fermi gas is a theoretical model used to describe a system of non-interacting fermions (particles with half-integer spin) in a box with no external potential. This model is often used to study the behavior of electrons in a metal, as they can be considered non-interacting in the presence of a strong enough external field.
In a free Fermi gas, states are organized according to their momentum and energy levels. Each state can only be occupied by one fermion, due to the Pauli exclusion principle. As the energy increases, more states become available for occupation.
The Fermi energy is the highest energy level that is occupied by fermions in a free Fermi gas at absolute zero temperature. It is a crucial parameter in determining the properties of a free Fermi gas, such as its heat capacity and electrical conductivity.
At absolute zero temperature, a free Fermi gas will have all of its fermions occupying the lowest energy states, up to the Fermi energy. As the temperature increases, fermions can occupy higher energy states, leading to an increase in the gas's energy and entropy. This results in changes in the gas's properties, such as an increase in its heat capacity.
The free Fermi gas model is important in understanding the behavior of systems of interacting fermions, such as electrons in metals. It also serves as a starting point for more complex models that take into account interactions between particles. Additionally, the free Fermi gas model is used in many areas of physics, including condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, and astrophysics.