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Thermodynamically Reversible Processes in Statistical Physics

Norton, John D. (2016) Thermodynamically Reversible Processes in Statistical Physics. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Equilibrium states are used as limit states to define thermodynamically reversible processes. When these processes are implemented in statistical physics, these limit states become unstable and can change with time, due to thermal fluctuations. For macroscopic systems, the changes are insignificant on ordinary time scales and what little there is can be suppressed by macroscopically negligible, entropy-creating dissipation. For systems of molecular sizes, the changes are large on short time scales and can only sometimes be suppressed with significant entropy-creating dissipation. As a result, at molecular scales, thermodynamically reversible processes are impossible in principle. Unlike the macroscopic case, they cannot be realized even approximately, when we account for all sources of dissipation.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Norton, John D.jdnorton@pitt.edu
Additional Information: Includes an appendix not in the journal version on processes with a Brownian particle.
Keywords: entropy reversible process
Subjects: General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User: John Norton
Date Deposited: 16 Jun 2016 12:35
Last Modified: 16 Jun 2016 12:35
Item ID: 12202
Subjects: General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date: 15 June 2016
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/12202

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