Application of the algebraic approach to molecular thermodynamics and quantum deformations

An algebraic model based on Lie-algebraic techniques is applied to vibrational molecular thermodynamics. The model uses the isomorphism between the SU(2) algebra and the one-dimensional Morse oscillator. A vibrational high-temperature partition function and the related thermodynamic properties are derived in terms of the parameters of the model. The anharmonic vibrations are described as anharmonic q-bosons using a first-order expansion of a quantum deformation. It is shown, that this quantum deformation is related to the shape of the Morse potential.