American Journal of Physics
Equilibrium properties of a mixture of reacting gases: A soluble model
H. J. Kreuzer
Abstract
We calculate exactly the equilibrium properties of a large system consisting of two kinds of Bose particles, a and b, that can be transformed into each other by an external field. The enhancement in the specific heat around the threshold (internal excitation) energy of the b particles is studied as a function of the external field strength, and the mass–action law is derived. Bose–Einstein condensation can occur in our mixture of reacting gases at a transition temperature lower than that of a one-component ideal gas. Also, the condensate occupancy increases faster than T3/2 as the temperature is lowered.