Free-energy ensemble average

As in the classical expression (25) the quantity ip can be inferred directly as representing the statistical analogue of the Helmholtz free energy. The average behaviour of the canonical ensemble thus obeys the laws of thermodynamics. 

The last equation follows from the definition of the partition function, eq. (16.2). Analogously to eq. (16.10) the free energy difference can be evaluated as an ensemble average. 

Where A F(z) is the free energy at z relative to that at the reactant state minimum zr, and the ensemble average < > is obtained by a quantum mechanical effective potential [15]. Note that the inherent nature of quantum mechanics is at odds with a potential of mean force as a function of a finite reaction coordinate. Nevertheless, the reaction coordinate function z[r] can be evaluated from the path centroids r, first recognized by Feynman and Flibbs as the most classical-like variable in quantum statistical mechanics and later explored by many researchers [14, 15]. 

UU is the Hamiltonian difference (the perturbation) the angle brackets represent a canonical ensemble average performed on an equilibrated system designated by the subscript. Usually the kinetic component of the Hamiltonian is not included in the free energy calculation, and A- //, n can be replaced by the potential energy difference AU = Ui - U0. 

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