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pirate phy
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According to Mahan, phonons or photons doesn't have occupation number. Is this true?http://i.tinyuploads.com/MBwW0j.jpg
pirate phy said:According to Mahan, phonons or photons doesn't have occupation number. Is this true?http://i.tinyuploads.com/MBwW0j.jpg
Occupation numbers of phonons/photons refer to the number of phonons or photons present in a specific energy state. These numbers are used to describe the distribution of particles in a system and are important in understanding thermodynamic processes.
The occupation numbers of phonons/photons are determined by the Bose-Einstein distribution, which describes the probability of a particle occupying a specific energy state at a given temperature. This distribution takes into account the quantum nature of particles, such as phonons and photons.
The main difference between occupation numbers of phonons and photons is that phonons are collective excitations of a solid, while photons are individual particles of light. Additionally, phonons follow Bose-Einstein statistics, while photons follow either Bose-Einstein or Fermi-Dirac statistics, depending on the system.
The occupation numbers of phonons/photons play a crucial role in determining thermal conductivity. In a solid, the more phonons present in a specific energy state, the more efficient heat transfer will be. In contrast, in a gas, the occupancy of photons in certain energy states can affect the thermal conductivity of the gas.
Yes, the occupation numbers of phonons/photons can be manipulated by changing the temperature or other external parameters in a system. This can be useful in controlling the thermal conductivity of a material or in studying the behavior of particles in different energy states.