Georgy Lebon - Böcker

This is the first comprehensive monograph on a new thermodynamic theory that goes beyond the classical theory of irreversible processes. In contrast to the classical approach, the local equilibrium hypothesis is abandoned, and the basic variables are complemented by non-equilibrium quantities. The claims made for extended thermodynamics are confirmed by the kinetic theory of gases and statistical mechanics. The book covers a wide spectrum of applications, and also contains a wide discussion of the foundations and the scope of the most current theories of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. The present edition reflects new developments in the theory of applications, adds new problems and provides a more detailed comparison with other fields of active research. It contains 130 proposed problems, whose detailed solutions, as well as wide bibliography on extended irreversible thermodynamics and related topices, may be unloaded from the www uab.es/dep-fisica/eit website.

Our time is characterized by an explosion of information and by an accel- ation of knowledge. A book cannot compete with the huge amount of data available on the Web. However, to assimilate all this information, it is n- essary to structure our knowledge in a useful conceptual framework. The purpose of the present work is to provide such a structure for students and researchers interested by the current state of the art of non-equilibrium th- modynamics. The main features of the book are a concise and critical pres- tation of the basic ideas, illustrated by a series of examples, selected not only for their pedagogical value but also for the perspectives o?ered by recent technological advances. This book is aimed at students and researchers in physics, chemistry, engineering, material sciences, and biology. We have been guided by two apparently antagonistic objectives: gener- ity and simplicity. To make the book accessible to a large audience of n- specialists, we have decided about a simpli?ed but rigorous presentation. Emphasis is put on the underlying physical background without sacri?cing mathematical rigour, the several formalisms being illustrated by a list of - amplesandproblems. Alloverthiswork,wehavebeenguidedbytheformula: “Getthemorefromtheless”,withthepurposetomakeamaximumofpeople aware of a maximum of knowledge from a minimum of basic tools. Besidesbeinganintroductorytext,ourobjectiveistopresentanoverview, as general as possible, of the more recent developments in non-equilibrium thermodynamics, especially beyond the local equilibrium description.

Our time is characterized by an explosion of information and by an accel- ation of knowledge. A book cannot compete with the huge amount of data available on the Web. However, to assimilate all this information, it is n- essary to structure our knowledge in a useful conceptual framework. The purpose of the present work is to provide such a structure for students and researchers interested by the current state of the art of non-equilibrium th- modynamics. The main features of the book are a concise and critical pres- tation of the basic ideas, illustrated by a series of examples, selected not only for their pedagogical value but also for the perspectives o?ered by recent technological advances. This book is aimed at students and researchers in physics, chemistry, engineering, material sciences, and biology. We have been guided by two apparently antagonistic objectives: gener- ity and simplicity. To make the book accessible to a large audience of n- specialists, we have decided about a simpli?ed but rigorous presentation. Emphasis is put on the underlying physical background without sacri?cing mathematical rigour, the several formalisms being illustrated by a list of - amplesandproblems. Alloverthiswork,wehavebeenguidedbytheformula: “Getthemorefromtheless”,withthepurposetomakeamaximumofpeople aware of a maximum of knowledge from a minimum of basic tools. Besidesbeinganintroductorytext,ourobjectiveistopresentanoverview, as general as possible, of the more recent developments in non-equilibrium thermodynamics, especially beyond the local equilibrium description.

The fast progress in many areas of research related to non-equilibrium ther- dynamics has prompted us to write a fourth edition of this book. Like in the previous editions, our main concern is to open the subject to the widest au- ence, including students, teachers, and researchers in physics, chemistry, engine- ing, biology, and materials sciences. Our objective is to present a general view on several open problems arising in non-equilibrium situations, and to afford a wide perspective of applications illustrating their practical outcomes and con- quences. A better comprehension of the foundations is generally correlated to an increase of the range of applications, implying mutual feedback and cross fert- ization. Truly, thermodynamic methods are widely used in many areas of science but, surprisingly, the active dynamism of thermodynamics as a ?eld on its own is not suf?ciently perceived outside a relatively reduced number of specialized researchers. Extended irreversible thermodynamics (EIT) goes beyond the classical f- malisms based on the local equilibrium hypothesis; it was also referred to in an earlier publication by the authors (Lebon et al. 1992) as a thermodynamics of the third type, as it provides a bridge between classical irreversible thermodynamics and rational thermodynamics, enlarging at the same time their respective range of application. The salient feature of the theory is that the ?uxes are incorporated into the set of basic variables.