Onsager's concept of microscopic reversibility and its consequences. Microscopic processes are not solely reversible

Onsager's concept of microscopic reversibility and its consequences. Microscopic processes are not solely reversible

Článek WoS

This contribution deals with an issue in irreversible thermodynamics which is usually not sufficiently covered in physics teaching. Onsager's conception of microscopic reversibility of all microscopic processes is one of the basic assumptions in the derivation of both Onsager and Onsager-Casimir reciprocal relations. Onsager's interpretation of microscopic reversibility as reversibility of mechanical motion of particles participating in a transport process is reflected in the standard form of the reciprocity relations as well as in their physical interpretation. However, the requirement of microscopic reversibility relates only to reversible, dissipation-free motion of particles which participate in a transport process and is not valid for this process as a whole. Reciprocity relations are not valid for the irreversible part of the transport process, which was not be taken into account by Onsager. The coupling matrix symmetry properties are studied with connection to the energy dissipation and, consequently, to the reversibility or irreversibility of transport processes.

This contribution deals with an issue in irreversible thermodynamics which is usually not sufficiently covered in physics teaching. Onsager's conception of microscopic reversibility of all microscopic processes is one of the basic assumptions in the derivation of both Onsager and Onsager-Casimir reciprocal relations. Onsager's interpretation of microscopic reversibility as reversibility of mechanical motion of particles participating in a transport process is reflected in the standard form of the reciprocity relations as well as in their physical interpretation. However, the requirement of microscopic reversibility relates only to reversible, dissipation-free motion of particles which participate in a transport process and is not valid for this process as a whole. Reciprocity relations are not valid for the irreversible part of the transport process, which was not be taken into account by Onsager. The coupling matrix symmetry properties are studied with connection to the energy dissipation and, consequently, to the reversibility or irreversibility of transport processes.

microscopic reversibility, reciprocity relations, thermodynamics

microscopic reversibility, reciprocity relations, thermodynamics

STRUNC, M.; PEKAŘ, M.

30.09.2025

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS

5

46

Spojené království Velké Británie a Severního Irska

055101

15

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6404/adf26a