Approximate Variational Principle in Quantum Statistics

The density matrix of von Neumann can be used to formulate an exact variational principle for quantum statistics which embodies the principle of maximization of entropy. Using the formalism of second quantization, we can write this variational principle for fermions or bosons and can then derive from it an approximate variational procedure which yields the particle states of a system of interacting bosons or fermions as well as the distribution of particles in these states. These equations yield the generalization of the Hartree-Fock equations for nonzero temperature and the corresponding extension to bosons.