skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: The origin of Onsager`s key role in the development of linear irreversible thermodynamics

Journal Article · · Journal of Statistical Physics
 [1]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)

Onsager discovered a deep underlying symmetry in the thermodynamic description of irreversible processes for which he was awarded the 1968 Nobel Prize in chemistry. After a brief sketch of irreversible thermodynamics and its history, this paper describes Onsager`s path to his discovery. It is primarily based on an interview with Onsager a few months before his death, with some details from Onsager`s Nobel address. When asked to rank his work, he placed this work at the top.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
96336
Journal Information:
Journal of Statistical Physics, Vol. 78, Issue 1-2; Other Information: PBD: Jan 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Canonical formalism, fundamental equation, and generalized thermomechanics for irreversible fluids with heat transfer
Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Physical Review E; (United States) · OSTI ID:96336

Ernest Orlando Lawrence (1901-1958), Cyclotron and Medicine
Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Zeitschrift Fur Medizinische Physik · OSTI ID:96336

Interview with Philip W. Anderson
Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Supercurrents (Belmont) (Calif.); (United States) · OSTI ID:96336