physics pp. 365–375 On some problems of the maximum entropy ansatz

Abstract. Some problems associated with the use of the maximum entropy principle, namely, (i) possible divergence of the series that is exponentiated, (ii) input-dependent asymptotic behaviour of the density function resulting from the truncation of the said series, and (iii) non-vanishing of the density function at the boundaries of a finite domain are pointed out. Prescriptions for remedying the aforesaid problems are put forward. Pilot calculations involving the ground quantum eigenenergy states of the quartic oscillator, the particle-in-a-box model, and the classical Maxwellian speed and energy distributions lend credence to our approach