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In statistical mechanics I often come across average energies of the form:

$$\begin{equation} \langle\epsilon_n\rangle=\alpha \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}n^2e^{-\alpha n^2} \end{equation}$$

where $\alpha$ is positive and by rewriting

$$\begin{equation} \langle\epsilon_n\rangle=-\alpha \partial_{\alpha}\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}e^{-\alpha n^2} \end{equation}$$

However, I cannot seem to solve these kinds of sums. Is there any way to solve the sum $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}x^{n^2}$$ analytically?

Thomas Andrews
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1 Answers1

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$f(y)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty e^{-\pi yn^2}$ is a theta function, which arose long ago also in number theory, and as far as I know there is no more-elementary expression for it.

(Despite not being elementary, it does enjoy some interesting properties, useful in number theory, such as the functional equation $f(1/y)=\sqrt{y}\cdot f(y)$, proven via Poisson summation.)

paul garrett
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