LOGIC OF STATISTICAL MECHANICS This is, in essence, no different from the game of twenty questions. We have an initial hypothesis space H_0 = {h_1, ..., h_n} determined by our prior information about the nature of atoms. H_0 is enormous, comprising perhaps n = exp(10^26) conceivable quantum states. Each new piece of information (data) that we acquire is a constraint that narrows down these possibilities to some H_1 \in H_0. That is really all there is to it. Difficulties in understanding this rationale come from the fact that it is usually described in a physicists jargon that refers, not to the simple underlying idea, but to elements of the rather indirect mathematical formalism that has evolved to carry it out.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 04:20:22 +0000
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