Ensembles in thermostatistics

Thermostatistical ensembles are collectives whose average behaviour reflects the actual behaviour of a physical system.

History

The concept of thermostatistical ensembles was introduced by Josiah Willard Gibbs (Ref. ?). Albert Einstein also also, independently, introduced ensembles (Refs. 2 and 3).

Frequently encountered ensembles

• Canonical ensemble ($NVT$)
• Gibbs ensemble
• Grand canonical ensemble ($\mu VT$)
• Isothermal-isobaric ensemble ($NpT$)
• Microcanonical ensemble ($NVE$)

See also

• Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo
• Monte Carlo in the grand-canonical ensemble
• Monte Carlo in the microcanonical ensemble