The statistical mechanical resolution of a thermodynamic “paradox”

We discuss a thermodynamic paradox suggested by Fallows and Greenleaf. Using quantum statistical mechanics, we analyze the problem in detail, showing why no paradox arises.This work was carried out some time ago, circulated as a MIT internal report, and has since enjoyed a modest popularity. We are pleased to publish it more broadly in this volume dedicated to the memory of such an outstanding researcher as Prof. P. Résibois. (MOS)     

Constant locked inertia tensor trajectories for simple mechanical systems with symmetry

Saari’s Conjecture, generalized from its usual context of the N$N$-body problem to a simple mechanical system with symmetry, says roughly that a condition of constant locked inertia tensor (interpreted appropriately) along a solution curve should guarantee that the curve is a relative equilibrium. Using a local Lagrangian slice parametrization about a non-symmetric point in phase space, we offer the motion in the form of a reduced Euler–Poincaré–Lagrange system together with the reconstruction equation. We state necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of relative equilibria in this parametrization. These conditions allow us to relate curves with constant locked inertia tensors to relative equilibria. We find a class of simple mechanical systems with symmetry for which Saari’s Conjecture is true. We also show that if a simple mechanical system with n$n$ degrees of freedom is symmetric under the free linear action of a k$k$-dimensional Lie group where k(k+1)/2≥(n−k)$k(k+1)/2\ge (n-k)$, then a version of Saari’s Conjecture holds except at specific isolated points. We apply our results to the three-dimensional three-body and four-body problems and to the n$n$-dimensional general relative two-body problem.     

Conformally invariant field theories in two dimensions and corresponding statistical mechanical models

Belavin, Zamlodochikov and Polyakov have recently proposed a class of conformally invariant field theories in two dimension with exactly determined rational critical indices. We establish a tentative identification of a subset of these theories in terms of the O(n) model and theq-state Potts model in 2-dimensions for appropriaten andq. The results of this work were reported in the conference on “Structural Similarities in Exactly Solved Models” at I.T.P. Santa Barbara, August 1984.     

Can statistical average be affected by its observer?

In classical statistical mechanics, it is tacitly assumed that the only side effect of the measuring process is to produce fluctuations in the measured system. In other words, the system's average property is not affected by the observer. The present letter discusses this assumption in terms of aGedankenexperiment.     

A thermostatistical approach to protein structures

In this study, the relation between the additional heat capacities of proteins have been obtained. The expressions for the increments of enthalpy , entropy and Gibbs energy which are encountered in the dissolving of the proteins in water, have been calculated. Partition functions of proteins are related to the macrothermodynamical quantities with the help of free energies. In order to endeavour the structure of the proteins, the theoretical calculations of thermostatistical mechanics are fitted to the data of experimental results.     

The relativistic statistical theory and Kaniadakis entropy: an approach through a molecular chaos hypothesis

We have investigated the proof of the H theorem within a manifestly covariant approach by considering the relativistic statistical theory developed in [G. Kaniadakis, Phys. Rev. E 66, 056125 (2002); G. Kaniadakis, Phys. Rev. E 72, 036108 (2005)]. As it happens in the nonrelativistic limit, the molecular chaos hypothesis is slightly extended within the Kaniadakis formalism. It is shown that the collisional equilibrium states (null entropy source term) are described by a κ power law generalization of the exponential Juttner distribution, e.g., , with θ=α(x)+β_μp^μ, where α(x) is a scalar, β_μ is a four-vector, and p^μ is the four-momentum. As a simple example, we calculate the relativistic κ power law for a dilute charged gas under the action of an electromagnetic field F^μν. All standard results are readly recovered in the particular limit κ→0.     

关于统计力学的基本原理

文章简要讨论有关统计力学基本原理的几个问题,包括正则系综理论、系综分布函数的支集、与热力学的对应、不可逆性及分布函数的时间演化。     

非广延统计力学与完全开放系统的统计分布

简介了非广延统计力学的Tsallis统计,用其计算了理想气体;推导出了以含有非广延熵常数的Shannon熵为基础和以Tsallis熵为基础的非广延统计力学的完全开放系统的统计分布及计算热力学量的公式;讨论表明:Tsallis熵对应的统计分布及计算热力学量的公式在非广延参量q→1时,完全过渡到了Shannon熵对应的形式.     

Callen-like method for the classical Heisenberg ferromagnet

A study of the d-dimensional classical Heisenberg ferromagnetic model in the presence of a magnetic field is performed within the two-time Green function’s framework in classical statistical physics. We extend the well known quantum Callen method to derive analytically a new formula for magnetization. Although this formula is valid for any dimensionality, we focus on one- and three- dimensional models and compare the predictions with those arising from a different expression suggested many years ago in the context of the classical spectral density method. Both frameworks give results in good agreement with the exact numerical transfer-matrix data for the one-dimensional case and with the exact high-temperature-series results for the three-dimensional one. In particular, for the ferromagnetic chain, the zero-field susceptibility results are found to be consistent with the exact analytical ones obtained by M.E. Fisher. However, the formula derived in the present paper provides more accurate predictions in a wide range of temperatures of experimental and numerical interest.     

Metastable states in the van der Waals-Maxwell theory

A slight modification of the recent Penrose and Lebowitz treatment of thermodynamic metastable states is presented. For the case of periodic boundary conditions, this modification allows the condition of metastability to be extended to all the metastable states in the van der Waals-Maxwell theory of the liquid-vapor phase transition, that is, for all states satisfyingf ₀()+1/2 ²>f(, 0+) andf₀()+x>0 wheref(, 0+) is the (stable) Helmholtz free energy density of the generalized van der Waals-Maxwell theory andf ₀() is the Helmholtz free energy density of a reference system with no long-range interaction, is a mean field-type term arising from a long-range Kac interaction, is the overall mean particle density, andx is any positive number. For the case of rigid-wall boundary conditions, a more restrictive condition is placed onx.     

Base-controlled mechanical systems and geometric phases

In this paper, we carry a detailed study of mechanical systems with configuration space Q?Q/G$Q?Q/G$ for which the base Q/G$Q/G$ variables are being controlled. The overall system’s motion is considered to be induced from the base one due to the presence of general non-holonomic constraints. It is shown that the solution can be factorized into dynamical and geometrical parts. Moreover, under favorable kinematical circumstances, the dynamical part admits a further factorization since it can be reconstructed from an intermediate (body) momentum solution, yielding a reconstruction phase formula. Finally, we apply this results to the study of concrete mechanical systems.     

Tailoring steep density profile with unstable points

The mesoscopic properties of a plasma in a cylindrical magnetic field are investigated from the view point of test-particle dynamics. When the system has enough time and spatial symmetries, a Hamiltonian of a test particle is completely integrable and can be reduced to a single degree of freedom Hamiltonian for each initial state. The reduced Hamiltonian sometimes has unstable fixed points (saddle points) and associated separatrices. To choose among available dynamically compatible equilibrium states of the one particle density function of these systems we use a maximum entropy principle and discuss how the unstable fixed points affect the density profile or a local pressure gradient, and are able to create a steep profile that improves plasma confinement.     

Graph reconstruction and quantum statistical mechanics

We study how far it is possible to reconstruct a graph from various Banach algebras associated to its universal covering, and extensions thereof to quantum statistical mechanical systems. It turns out that most the boundary operator algebras reconstruct only topological information, but the statistical mechanical point of view allows for complete reconstruction of multigraphs with minimal degree three.     

Unification theory of classical statistical uncertainty relation and quantum uncertainty relation and its applications

General classical statistical uncertainty relation is deduced and generalized to quantum uncertainty relation. We give a general unification theory of the classical statistical and quantum uncertainty relations, and prove that the classical limit of quantum mechanics is just classical statistical mechanics. It is shown that the classical limit of the general quantum uncertainty relation is the general classical uncertainty relation. Also, some specific applications show that the obtained theory is self-consistent and coincides with those from physical experiments.     

A unified grand canonical description of the nonextensive thermostatistics of the quantum gases: Fractal and fractional approach

In this paper, the particles of quantum gases, that is, bosons and fermions are regarded as g-ons which obey fractional exclusion statistics. With this point of departure the thermostatistical relations concerning the Bose and Fermi systems are unified under the g-on formulation where a fractal approach is adopted. The fractal inspired entropy, the partition function, distribution function, the thermodynamics potential and the total number of g-ons have been found for a grand canonical g-on system. It is shown that from the g-on formulation; by a suitable choice of the parameters of the nonextensivity q, the parameter of the fractional exclusion statistics g, nonextensive Tsallis as well as extensive (q=1) standard thermostatistical relations of the Bose and Fermi systems are recovered. Received 17 September 1999     

Perturbation treatment of non-linear transport via the Robertson statistical formalism

A perturbation solution is found for the differential equation defining an operator Tˆ used by Robertson to relate the information-theoretic phase-space distribution σ to the solution ρ of the classical Liouville equation. This relation provides a closure, used in obtaining an exact equation for σ. Multiplying the latter equation by F, a phase-space function odd under momentum reversal, of which heat and diffusion fluxes are among the examples, one gets an exact equation for ∂〈F〉/∂t. 〈F〉 is the phase space integral of ρF. The dissipative terms in ∂〈F〉/∂t can be expanded, like Tˆ, in successive orders O(〈F〉ⁿ). For a model in which equilibrium ensemble fluctuations relax exponentially, terms linear and O(〈F〉³) are calculated. The non-linear terms exhibit an explicit time-dependence for short times. In a steady state induced by external driving forces, the explicit time-dependence disappears, in agreement with existing phenomenology. For simplicity, spatial uniformity is assumed. A generalization is required for large temperature or velocity gradients.     

The thermal Green functions in nonextensive quantum statistical mechanics

The thermal Green functions of the quantum-mechanical harmonic oscillator are constructed within the framework of nonextensive statistical mechanics with normalized q -expectation values. For the Tsallis index q greater than unity, these functions are found to be expressed analytically in terms of the Hurwitz zeta function. It is found that influence of the nonextensivity on the time-ordered thermal propagator is relevant only at the “on-shell” states. In particular, the finite-temperature contribution to the thermal propagator becomes enhanced for the strong nonextensivity. Received 30 September 1998     

非一致随机分布复合材料力学参数预测的统计二阶双尺度方法

通过建立统计的二阶双尺度计算方法,预测了非一致随机分布复合材料结构的力学参数,包括刚度参数和弹性极限强度参数.所谓非一致随机分布复合材料结构,是指在整个结构中夹杂随机分布,但分布特征并不是处处相同,而是逐渐变化的,从而导致材料在宏观上具有随着位置连续变化的力学性能.描述了一致和非一致随机分布复合材料结构的特征及其细观表征方法,并建立了统计的二阶双尺度计算公式,讨论了材料的弹性极限强度准则.最后,针对不同的非一致随机分布复合材料,预测了材料的力学参数并与实验数据进行了对比.结果表明,统计的二阶双尺度方法对于预测非一致随机分布复合材料的力学参数是有效的. 关键词： 统计二阶双尺度方法 非一致随机分布 复合材料结构