In
statistical mechanics, a
microcanonical ensemble is the
statistical ensemble that is used to represent the possible states of a mechanical system which has an exactly specified total energy. The system is assumed to be isolated in the sense that the system cannot exchange energy or particles with its environment, so that (by
conservation of energy) the energy of the system remains exactly known as time goes on. The system's energy, composition, volume, and shape are kept the same in all possible states of the system.