Effective classical partition functions (original) (raw)

Abstract

We present a method by which a quantum-mechanical partition function can be approximated from below by an effective classical partition function. The associated potential is obtained by a simple smearing procedure. For a strongly anharmonic oscillator and a double-well potential, the lowest approximation gives a free energy which is accurate to a few percent, even at zero temperature.

• Received 20 May 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.34.5080

©1986 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

R. P. Feynman

• Lauritsen Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125

H. Kleinert

• Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093

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