In quantum field theory, we have a generating functional, Z^* of correlation functions and this value, called the partition function is usually expressed by something like the following functional integral:

$\backslash int\; \backslash mathcal\{D\}\backslash phi\; e^\{i(S*+\backslash int\; d^dx\; J(x)\backslash phi(x))\}$

where S is the action functional. This is very analogous to statistical mechanics. In fact, a Wick rotation emphasizes the similarities.

See also partition function (statistical mechanics)

Quantum field theory