Thermal noise, shot noise and statistical mechanics

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Abstract
The relation between thermal noise, shot noise and the fluctuating occupation numbers encountered in statistical mechanics is explored. It is shown that the familiar thermal and shot noise formulae can be derived in a general way from these fluctuations. An understanding of the origins of noise makes possible a clear distinction between shot noise and thermal noise processes. This distinction between the two processes is of some practical interest, since the early history of noise in valves, and the recent history of noise in semiconductor devices, show that confusion on this subject is widespread.

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