Published December 2016 | Version v1
Journal article

On the dispute between Boltzmann and Gibbs entropy

Description

The validity of the concept of negative temperature has been recently challenged by arguing that the Boltzmann entropy (that allows negative temperatures) is inconsistent from a mathematical and statistical point of view, whereas the Gibbs entropy (that does not admit negative temperatures) provides the correct definition for the microcanonical entropy. Here we prove that the Boltzmann entropy is thermodynamically and mathematically consistent. Analytical results on two systems supporting negative temperatures illustrate the scenario we propose. In addition we numerically study a lattice system to show that negative temperature equilibrium states are accessible and obey standard statistical mechanics prediction.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aop.2016.10.017

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1016/j.aop.2016.10.017;
arXiv
arXiv:1601.01509v2;
PII
S0003-4916(16)30234-2;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Annals of Physics (New York)
Journal Volume
375
Journal Page Range
p. 414-434
ISSN
0003-4916
CODEN
APNYA6

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
48064382
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
ENTROPY; FREE ENTHALPY; NUMERICAL ANALYSIS; STATISTICAL MECHANICS; THERMODYNAMICS
Descriptors DEC
ENERGY; MATHEMATICS; MECHANICS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2016 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.