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Boltzmann factor

Description

In statistical mechanics and mathematics, a Boltzmann distribution (also called Gibbs distribution) is a probability distribution, probability measure, or frequency distribution of particles in a system over various possible states. The Boltzmann distribution appears in statistical mechanics when considering isolated (or nearly-isolated) systems of fixed composition that are in thermal equilibrium (equilibrium with respect to energy exchange).
The ratio of a Boltzmann distribution computed for two states is known as the Boltzmann factor and characteristically only depends on the states’ energy difference.

Related formulas

Variables

Fstate2 Boltzmann distribution in state 2 (dimensionless)
Fstate1 Boltzmann distribution in state 1 (dimensionless)
ee
E1Energy in state 1 (J)
E2Energy in state 2 (J)
kBoltzmann constant
TThe absolute temperature (K)