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    Emergence of Tsallis statistics in Thomas-Fermi theory

    Jean H. Y. Passos1,2,*, Anna L. F. Lucchi1,2,†, Max Jauregui3,‡, and Renio S. Mendes1,2,§

    • 1Departamento de Física, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil
    • 2National Institute of Science and Technology for Complex Systems, Rua Xavier Sigaud 150, 22290-180 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
    • 3Faculdade de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Corrêa da Costa, 2367, Bairro Boa Esperança, 78060-900 Cuiabá, MT, Brazil

    • *Contact author: jhypassos@gmail.com
    • Contact author: annalauraferreiralucchi@gmail.com
    • Contact author: max.rodriguez@ufmt.br
    • §Contact author: rsmendes@dfi.uem.br

    Phys. Rev. E 114, 034124 – Published 14 September, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/gvjq-tcrr

    Abstract

    This work establishes a direct connection between semiclassical Thomas-Fermi theory and Tsallis statistics. The kinetic energy term of the Thomas-Fermi framework is shown to be associated with the Tsallis entropy Sq, while the particle interactions play the role of internal energy U, allowing the Thomas-Fermi-Lenz functional to be interpreted as a free-energy functional within a generalized thermostatistical setting. Accordingly, the minimization of the energy functional is equivalent to a maximum-entropy principle. The entropic index q is found to depend on spatial dimension: q=(d+2)/d in the nonrelativistic case, q=(d+1)/d in the ultrarelativistic limit, and q=3 under strong magnetic fields. A time-dependent hydrodynamic formulation leads to a nonlinear diffusion equation consistent with a nonlinear Fokker-Planck description. An anomalous diffusion characterized by a universal subdiffusive regime, independent of the spatial dimension, was identified. The time-dependent and time-independent results reveal a correspondence between Thomas-Fermi theory and Tsallis statistics, indicating that the former can be viewed as a generalized thermostatistics; Tsallis statistics is not assumed, it emerges from Thomas-Fermi theory.

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