Does a relativistic version of quantum thermodynamics exist? I.e. in a non-inertial frame of reference, can I, an external observer, calculate quantities like magnetisation within the non-inertial frame?
I'd be interested to know if there's a difference between how to treat thermodynamics in a uniformly accelerated reference frame and in a non-uniformly accelerated reference frame.
Thanks!
Answer
There is a classic treatise on "Relativity, Thermodynamics and Cosmology" from R. Tolmann from the 1930s - it is still referenced in papers today. This generalises Thermodynamics to Special Relativity and then General Relativity. As a simple example the transformation law for Temperature is stated as: $T=\sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)T_0$ when changing to a Lorentz moving frame.
Another example is that "entropy density" $\phi$ is introduced, which is also subject to a Lorentz transformation. Finally this becomes a scalar with an associated "entropy 4-vector" in GR. The Second Law is expressed using these constructs by Tolmann.
There is some discussion in Misner, Thorne and Wheeler too.
Of course both these texts also include lots of regular General Relativity Theory which you may not need.
No comments:
Post a Comment