Large numbers hypothesis. III. Kinetic theory,statistical physics,and thermodynamics

Dirac's large numbers hypothesis (LNH) is incorporated into kinetic theory, statistical physics, and thermodynamics using the self-consistent formalism of units covariance. The ingeodesic equation and matter creation introduce modifications of the most fundamental laws of the subject. Liouville's theorem no longer holds, the Boltzmann equation is modified, as is theH-theorem. This affects the second law of thermodynamics in that for canonical LNH neither reversible nor adiabatic processes are possible (as expected). A significant result is that the collision terms have the same form as in standard physics. This means that equilibrium distribution functions are identical to those of standard physics, as required for self-consistency with the precepts of LNH. The net effect of LNH is as though all matter in our Universe were weakly coupled to a large heat bath.NAS-NRC Senior Research Associate 1981–1983.