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An italic capital Z, a weighted count of a system's states.
Also known as: Partition function, Zustandssumme, Sum over states
The partition function sums a Boltzmann factor over every state a system can occupy, and every thermodynamic quantity follows from it by differentiation. Its letter is German — Zustandssumme, 'sum over states' — which is why it is Z and not S or P.
Denotes the canonical partition function: the sum of Boltzmann factors over all accessible states.
Contexts: Laboratory
Generates every thermodynamic quantity by differentiation, which is why statistical mechanics reduces to computing it.
Contexts: Laboratory
Takes its letter from the German Zustandssumme, 'sum over states'.
Contexts: Laboratory
An italic capital letter Z, two horizontal strokes joined by a diagonal.