A critical survey of the classical and quantum statistics, with reference to their applications in the theory of metals

Abstract

The classical (Maxwell-Boltzmann) and quantum (Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein) statistics are applied to the particles in a given system, and the results compared and contrasted with reference to the Theory of Metals. In particular, it is shown that the electrons in a metal have a zero-point energy, and their contribution to the specific heat of the metal is negligible at ordinary temperatures. The two forms of statistics are then applied to obtain expressions for the electron emission from hot metals (Richardson effect) and the electrical and thermal conductivities of metals.