Relativistic Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics Revisited

Abstract

Relativistic irreversible thermodynamics is reformulated following the conventional approach proposed by Meixner in the non-relativistic case. Clear separation between mechanical and non-mechanical energy fluxes is made. The resulting equations for the entropy production and the local internal energy have the same structure as the non-relativistic ones. Assuming linear constitutive laws, it is shown that consistency is obtained both with the laws of thermodynamics and causality.

Thermal dynamics in general relativity

“…This leads to the interpretation of the fouracceleration contribution in terms of the effective inertia of heat (Ehlers 1973). Interestingly, Garcia-Colin & Sandoval-Villalbazo (2006) and Garcia-Perciante et al (2009) have recently suggested that this term may be the origin of instabilities. We will not discuss this suggestion in detail, but note that there are varying points of view in this area of research.…”

“…In particular, in the last few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the model arising from the need to describe highly relativistic plasmas generated in colliders like RHIC at Brookhaven and the LHC at CERN (Elze et al 2001;Muronga 2004). However, despite the obvious successes of the Israel-Stewart model and its various attractive features, there are still dissenting views in the literature, see for example Garcia-Colin & Sandoval-Villalbazo (2006) and Garcia-Perciante et al (2009). Particular objections concern the complexity of the model and the large number of dissipation coefficients that are needed to complete it.…”

Relativistic hydrodynamics – causality and stability

“…García-Colín and Sandoval-Villalbazo suggested a separation of an internal energy balance from the balance of the energy-momentum, similarly to nonrelativistic theories [18]. However, with an additional independent energy balance the energy-momentum tensor would not embrace the whole energy content of the matter [19].…”

Light scattering test regarding the relativistic nature of heat

“…(8-10) the transport coefficients are η B , the bulk viscosity, η s the shear viscosity and k th is the thermal conductivity. The entropy production (7) and the constitutive equation (10) differ from their counterparts in Meixner's scheme [3] by the presence of the acceleration term Tu β c 2 whose appearance can be traced back to the inclusion of heat in the energy momentum tensor, a feature not present in Meixner's formalism. The effect of this term in the RB spectrum will be the central subject of the next section.…”