Werndl, Charlotte and Frigg, Roman (2016) When Does a Boltzmannian Equilibrium Exist? [Preprint]
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Abstract
The received wisdom in statistical mechanics is that isolated systems, when left to themselves, approach equilibrium. But under what circumstances does an equilibrium state exist and an approach to equilibrium take place? In this paper we address these questions from the vantage point of the long-run fraction of time definition of Boltzmannian equilibrium that we developed in two recent papers (Werndl and Frigg 2015a, 2015b). After a short summary of Boltzmannian statistical mechanics and our definition of equilibrium, we state an existence theorem which provides general criteria for the existence of an equilibrium state. We first illustrate how the theorem works with a toy example, which allows us to illustrate the various elements of the theorem in a simple setting. After a look at the ergodic programme, we discuss equilibria in a number of different gas systems: the ideal gas, the dilute gas, the Kac gas, the stadium gas, the mushroom gas and the multi-mushroom gas (Section \ref{Gases}). In the conclusion we briefly summarise the main points and highlight open questions.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | |||||||||
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| Additional Information: | To be published in: Daniel Bedingham, Owen Maroney and Christopher Timpson (eds.): Quantum Foundations of Statistical Mechanics, Oxford: Oxford University Press. | |||||||||
| Keywords: | equilibrium Boltzmann statistical mechanics ergodic existence | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics |
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| Depositing User: | Charlotte Werndl | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 03 Jun 2016 14:55 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 03 Jun 2016 14:55 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 12129 | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics |
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| Date: | 2016 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/12129 |
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