2004/12/16 by L. Delle Site
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.stat-mech
published as Physica A293 71 (2001) and Physica A295 562 (2001) · The last section of the manuscript contains a correction published later as ERRATA
arxiv created 2004/12/16 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
We propose a simple approach for studying systems of compressed matter based on the Thomas-Fermi statistical model of single atom. The central point of our work is the development of the concept of ``statistical ionization'' by compression; in simple terms, we calculate the fraction of electrons within the atom whose positive energy, due to the compression, exceeds the negative binding energy electron-nucleus. Next we extend this concept from a single atom to macroscopic systems and write the corresponding equation of state. Positive aspects as well as limitations of the model are illustrated and discussed through all the paper.