Asymptotic Expansion of the Partition Function of the Asymmetric Top

Abstract
Methods developed by Wigner and Kirkwood for the determination of the partition functions of dynamical systems without explicit knowledge of the energy eigenvalues are used to calculate the first two terms of the asymptotic expansion of the partition function of the asymmetric top in powers of Planck's constant. The result is compared with Viney's expansion for the symmetric top and with Gordon's approximate expansion for the asymmetric top.