Another paradox involving the second law of thermodynamics

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871834· OSTI ID:253466

Sheehan, D P ^[1]

---

1. Department of Physics, University of San Diego, San Diego, California 92110 (United States)

Recently a paradox has been posed that appears to challenge the second law of thermodynamics in a plasma blackbody environment [D. P. Sheehan, Phys. Plasmas {bold 2}, 1893 (1995)]. In this paper another, related paradox is posed in an unmagnetized Q plasma. Laboratory experiments simulating some necessary conditions for the paradoxical system corroborate theoretical predictions and fail to resolve the paradox in favor of the second law. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 253466
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 3, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: Jan 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
ENTROPY
BLACKBODY RADIATION
CAVITIES
HEAT TRANSFER
IONIZATION
IRREVERSIBLE PROCESSES
RECOMBINATION
THERMODYNAMICS