Published July 6, 1987 | Version v1
Journal article

Resolution of Loschmidt's paradox: The origin of irreversible behavior in reversible atomistic dynamics

  • 1. Theoretical Division, University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545

Description

We show that Nosromane-bar mechanics provides a link between computer simulations of nonequilibrium processes and real-world experiments. Reversible Nose-bar equations of motion, when used to constrain non- equilibrium boundary regions, generate stable dissipative behavior within an adjoining bulk sample governed by Newton's equations of motion. Thus, irreversible behavior consistent with the second law of thermodynamics arises from completely reversible microscopic motion. Loschmidt's reversibility paradox is surmounted by this Nose-bar-Newton system, because the steady-state nonequilibrium probability density in the many-body phase space is confined to a zero-volume attractor

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Phys. Rev. Lett.
Journal Volume
59
Journal Issue
1
Series
Phys. Rev. Lett.
Journal Page Range
10-13
ISSN
0031-9007
CODEN
PRLTA