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Article
Elementary Derivation of Nonlinear Transport Equations from Statistical Mechanics
Journal of Statistical Physics (1986)
  • John D. Ramshaw, Portland State University
Abstract
Exact closed nonlinear transport equations for a set of macroscopic variablesa are derived from classical statistical mechanics. The derivation involves only simple manipulations of the Liouville equation, and makes no use of projection operators or graphical expansions. It is based on the Chapman-Enskog idea of separating the distribution function into a constrained equilibrium part, obtained from information theory, and a small remainder. The resulting exact transport equations involve time convolutions over the past history of botha(t) anda(t). However, if the variablesa provide a complete macroscopic description, the equations may be simplified. This is accomplished by a systematic expansion procedure of Chapman-Enskog type, in which the small parameter is the natural parameter of slowness relevant to the problem. When carried out to second order, this expansion leads to approximate nonlinear transport equations that are local in time. These equations are valid far from equilibrium. They contain nonlinear (i.e., state-dependent) transport coefficients given by integrals of time correlation functions in the constrained equilibrium ensemble. Earlier results are recovered when the equations are linearized about equilibrium. As an illustrative application of the formalism, an expression is derived for the nonlinear (i.e., velocity-dependent) friction coefficient for a heavy particle in a bath of light particles.
Disciplines
Publication Date
December, 1986
DOI
10.1007/BF01020585
Publisher Statement
At the time of publication John Ramshaw was affiliated with the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory.
Citation Information
J. D. Ramshaw, "Elementary Derivation of Nonlinear Transport Equations from Statistical Mechanics," J. Stat. Phys. 45, 983 (1986).