In Ashcroft and Mermin Chapter 1, just above equation (1.50) and in the context of a classical ideal electron gas, it is said that the electronic specific heat at constant volume c v is defined by c v = d E d T V which seemed highly irregular to me (I would have expected division by the mass M of the system of electrons). Is there any reason for this that I am perhaps missing?

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In Ashcroft and Mermin Chapter 1, just above equation (1.50) and in the context of a classical ideal electron gas, it is said that the electronic specific heat at constant volume       c    v   is defined by      c    v    =                    d        E                    d        T              V  which seemed highly irregular to me (I would have expected division by the mass M of the system of electrons). Is there any reason for this that I am perhaps missing?

Milton Hampton · Accepted Answer

Start with the definition of (extensive) specific heat:      C    v    =            d      E              d      T      from there, you can define three different intenstive quantities:massic :             c      v        =                  C        v            m       in J/K/kgmolar :             c      v        =                  C        v            n       in J/K/molvolumetric :             c      v        =                  C        v            V       in J/K/m          3  Depending on the book, you&#039;ll find different notations for those. All three quantities are in use, so if the name or notation isn&#039;t clear, have a look at their unit.

In Ashcroft and Mermin Chapter 1, just above equation (1.50) and in the context of a classical ideal electron gas, it is said that the electronic specific heat at constant volume c_v is defined by c_v=(dE/dT)/V

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