On transient relativistic thermodynamics and kinetic theory
Abstract
The incorporation of thermodynamics into relativity theory is considered. Such an incorporation, in the case of 'transient thermodynamics', has to overcome difficulties related to the usual Fourier law for heat conduction which implies infinite propagation velocities. It is shown that the problem is essentially one of two time length scales. In the conventional theory these are equated and a parabolic equation is obtained. In a more careful analysis a system of equations is derived which, for a dilute gas at least, is hyperbolic with a maximum propagation velocity of 0.775 c (c is the speed of light).
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A
- Pub Date:
- October 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1098/rspa.1977.0155
- Bibcode:
- 1977RSPSA.357...59S
- Keywords:
-
- Conductive Heat Transfer;
- Kinetic Theory;
- Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics;
- Propagation Velocity;
- Relativity;
- Transient Response;
- Boltzmann Transport Equation;
- Chapman-Enskog Theory;
- Parabolic Differential Equations;
- Relativistic Effects;
- Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics