ON THE QUANTUM STATISTICAL BASIS OF NON-EQUILIBRIUM THERMODYNAMICS. PART II

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · Physica

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-8914(61)90123-9· OSTI ID:4829438

Vlieger, J; Mazur, P; De Groot, S R

The quantum statistical theory of Wigner distribution functions, presented previously on the foundations of nonequilibrium thermodynamics, is used to develop the theory of joint Wigner distribution functions, which may be employed for the calculation of quantum mechanical correlation functions. The joint equilibrium distribution function of a set of extensive state variables is deflned. This distribution function is expressed in terms of the joint Wigner distribution function of the micro-canonical ensemble. The properties of joint equilibriunm distribution functions of extensive variables, in particular the so- called property of detailed balance, are studied. It is shown that joint equilibrium distribution functions are joint probabilities, if the set of quantum mechanical operators, corresponding to the extensive variables, is of a certain class. The theory of distribution functions of extensive state variables thus obtained, which is formally the same as developed previously on the basis of classical statistical mechanics, is used for the derivation of the Onsager reciprocal relations in nonequilibrium thermodynamics. The theory is developed for Miaxwell-Boltzmann statistic s. (auth)

• Research Organization: Universiteit, Leiden
• NSA Number: NSA-16-002358
• OSTI ID: 4829438
• Journal Information: Physica, Journal Name: Physica Vol. Vol: 27
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BOLTZMANN STATISTICS
CORRELATION FUNCTION
DISTRIBUTION
INTERACTIONS
MATHEMATICS
MAXWELL DISTRIBUTION
NUMERICALS
ONSAGER RELATIONS
OPERATORS
PHYSICS
PROBABILITY
QUANTUM MECHANICS
STABILITY
STATISTICS
THERMODYNAMICS
THERMOELECTRICITY
WIGNER DISTRIBUTION