Non-equilibrium thermodynamics of interfaces including electromagnetic effects

The application of non-equilibrium thermodynamics to a system consisting of two bulk phases and their interface is extended to include electromagnetic effects. The interface is assumed to carry singular mass, energy, and entropy densities as well as singular electric charge, electric current, polarization and magnetization. Electric and magnetic fields are allowed to be discontinuous across the interface, but not singular.Maxwell's equations are used to derive relationships among electromagnetic quantities on the surface and boundary conditions for the bulk phases. An expression for the surface entropy production including electromagnetic effects is obtained, and the resulting linear laws relating thermodynamic forces and fluxes are investigated.