ðə kɐnˈɑːnɪkəl ɑːnsˈɑːmbəl sˈæɾɪsfˌaɪz hˈɛns, ɪts kˌæɹɪktɚɹˈɪstɪk stˈeɪt fˈʌŋkʃən ɪz ðə hˈɛlmhoʊltz fɹˈiː ˈɛnɚdʒi .
The canonical ensemble satisfies  hence, its characteristic state function is the Helmholtz free energy .