microcanonicaladj.
/ˌmʌɪkrə(ʊ)kəˈnɒnᵻkl/, U.S. /ˈˌmaɪkroʊkəˈnɑnək(ə)l/ Physics.
In statistical mechanics: designating concepts that describe or relate to a closed system of constant volume which is thermally isolated from its surroundings, and whose total energy is constant and is known. Cf. canonical adj. and n. Additions. microcanonical ensemble n. a notional ensemble of systems (see ensemble n. 4), all with the same energy, that represent all the possible states of such a system.
ΚΠ
1902 J. W. Gibbs Statistical Mech. 115 On a distribution in phase called microcanonical in which all the systems have the same energy.
1902 J. W. Gibbs Statistical Mech. 116 From a certain point of view, the microcanonical distribution may seem more simple than the canonical, and it has perhaps been more studied, and been regarded as more closely related to the fundamental notions of thermodynamics.
1929 Science 12 July 42/1 Professor Fowler always uses the micro-canonical or rather surface ensemble instead of the full Gibbs canonical one.
1965 F. Reif Statist. & Thermal Physics vi. 219 The system is described statistically in terms of a microcanonical ensemble where all states in the given energy range are equally probable.
1995 Philos. Rev. 104 625 This ‘autonomous’ rationalization of equilibrium theory..tries to justify..the use of the standard microcanonical probability distribution for computing equilibrium values for quantities.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1902