Structure of penetrable-rod fluids: Exact properties and comparison between Monte Carlo simulations and two analytic theories

Bounded potentials are good models to represent the effective two-body interaction in some colloidal systems, such as dilute solutions of polymer chains in good solvents. The simplest bounded potential is that of penetrable spheres, which takes a positive finite value if the two spheres are overlapped, being 0 otherwise. Even in the one-dimensional case, the penetrable-rod model is far from trivial, since interactions are not restricted to nearest neighbors and so its exact solution is not known. In this paper we first derive the exact correlation functions of penetrable-rod fluids to second order in density at any temperature, as well as in the high-temperature and zero-temperature limits at any density. Next, two simple analytic theories are constructed: a high-temperature approximation based on the exact asymptotic behavior in the limit $T\to\infty$ and a low-temperature approximation inspired by the exact result in the opposite limit $T\to 0$. Finally, we perform Monte Carlo simulations for a wide range of temperatures and densities to assess the validity of both theories. It is found that they complement each other quite well, exhibiting a good agreement with the simulation data within their respective domains of applicability and becoming practically equivalent on the borderline of those domains. A perspective on the extension of both approaches to the more realistic three-dimensional case is provided.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables: v2: minor changes; published final versio

Tsallis statistics generalization of non-equilibrium work relations

We use third constraint formulation of Tsallis statistics and derive the $q$-statistics generalization of non-equilibrium work relations such as the Jarzynski equality and the Crooks fluctuation theorem which relate the free energy differences between two equilibrium states and the work distribution of the non-equilibrium processes.Comment: 5 page

Influence of the Particles Creation on the Flat and Negative Curved FLRW Universes

We present a dynamical analysis of the (classical) spatially flat and negative curved Friedmann-Lameitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) universes evolving, (by assumption) close to the thermodynamic equilibrium, in presence of a particles creation process, described by means of a realiable phenomenological approach, based on the application to the comoving volume (i. e. spatial volume of unit comoving coordinates) of the theory for open thermodynamic systems. In particular we show how, since the particles creation phenomenon induces a negative pressure term, then the choice of a well-grounded ansatz for the time variation of the particles number, leads to a deep modification of the very early standard FLRW dynamics. More precisely for the considered FLRW models, we find (in addition to the limiting case of their standard behaviours) solutions corresponding to an early universe characterized respectively by an "eternal" inflationary-like birth and a spatial curvature dominated singularity. In both these cases the so-called horizon problem finds a natural solution.Comment: 14 pages, no figures, appeared in Class. Quantum Grav., 18, 193, 200

Inflationary Models Driven by Adiabatic Matter Creation

The flat inflationary dust universe with matter creation proposed by Prigogine and coworkers is generalized and its dynamical properties are reexamined. It is shown that the starting point of these models depends critically on a dimensionless parameter $\Sigma$, closely related to the matter creation rate $\psi$. For $\Sigma$ bigger or smaller than unity flat universes can emerge, respectively, either like a Big-Bang FRW singularity or as a Minkowski space-time at $t=-\infty$. The case $\Sigma=1$ corresponds to a de Sitter-type solution, a fixed point in the phase diagram of the system, supported by the matter creation process. The curvature effects have also been investigated. The inflating de Sitter is a universal attractor for all expanding solutions regardless of the initial conditions as well as of the curvature parameter.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figures(available from the authors), uses LATE

Consistent thermodynamics for spin echoes

Spin-echo experiments are often said to constitute an instant of anti-thermodynamic behavior in a concrete physical system that violates the second law of thermodynamics. We argue that a proper thermodynamic treatment of the effect should take into account the correlations between the spin and translational degrees of freedom of the molecules. To this end, we construct an entropy functional using Boltzmann macrostates that incorporates both spin and translational degrees of freedom. With this definition there is nothing special in the thermodynamics of spin echoes: dephasing corresponds to Hamiltonian evolution and leaves the entropy unchanged; dissipation increases the entropy. In particular, there is no phase of entropy decrease in the echo. We also discuss the definition of macrostates from the underlying quantum theory and we show that the decay of net magnetization provides a faithful measure of entropy change.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figs. Changed figures, version to appear in PR

Thermodynamic Field Theory with the Iso-Entropic Formalism

A new formulation of the thermodynamic field theory (TFT) is presented. In this new version, one of the basic restriction in the old theory, namely a closed-form solution for the thermodynamic field strength, has been removed. In addition, the general covariance principle is replaced by Prigogine's thermodynamic covariance principle (TCP). The introduction of TCP required the application of an appropriate mathematical formalism, which has been referred to as the iso-entropic formalism. The validity of the Glansdorff-Prigogine Universal Criterion of Evolution, via geometrical arguments, is proven. A new set of thermodynamic field equations, able to determine the nonlinear corrections to the linear ("Onsager") transport coefficients, is also derived. The geometry of the thermodynamic space is non-Riemannian tending to be Riemannian for hight values of the entropy production. In this limit, we obtain again the same thermodynamic field equations found by the old theory. Applications of the theory, such as transport in magnetically confined plasmas, materials submitted to temperature and electric potential gradients or to unimolecular triangular chemical reactions can be found at references cited herein.Comment: 35 page

Minimum entropy production principle from a dynamical fluctuation law

The minimum entropy production principle provides an approximative variational characterization of close-to-equilibrium stationary states, both for macroscopic systems and for stochastic models. Analyzing the fluctuations of the empirical distribution of occupation times for a class of Markov processes, we identify the entropy production as the large deviation rate function, up to leading order when expanding around a detailed balance dynamics. In that way, the minimum entropy production principle is recognized as a consequence of the structure of dynamical fluctuations, and its approximate character gets an explanation. We also discuss the subtlety emerging when applying the principle to systems whose degrees of freedom change sign under kinematical time-reversal.Comment: 17 page

Light scattering and phase behavior of Lysozyme-PEG mixtures

Measurements of liquid-liquid phase transition temperatures (cloud points) of mixtures of a protein (lysozyme) and a polymer, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) show that the addition of low molecular weight PEG stabilizes the mixture whereas high molecular weight PEG was destabilizing. We demonstrate that this behavior is inconsistent with an entropic depletion interaction between lysozyme and PEG and suggest that an energetic attraction between lysozyme and PEG is responsible. In order to independently characterize the lysozyme/PEG interactions, light scattering experiments on the same mixtures were performed to measure second and third virial coefficients. These measurements indicate that PEG induces repulsion between lysozyme molecules, contrary to the depletion prediction. Furthermore, it is shown that third virial terms must be included in the mixture's free energy in order to qualitatively capture our cloud point and light scattering data. The light scattering results were consistent with the cloud point measurements and indicate that attractions do exist between lysozyme and PEG.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, 1 tabl

The dissipative effect of thermal radiation loss in high-temperature dense plasmas

A dynamical model based on the two-fluid dynamical equations with energy generation and loss is obtained and used to investigate the self-generated magnetic fields in high-temperature dense plasmas such as the solar core. The self-generation of magnetic fields might be looked at as a self-organization-type behavior of stochastic thermal radiation fields, as expected for an open dissipative system according to Prigogine's theory of dissipative structures.Comment: 4 pages, 1 postscript figure included; RevTeX3.0, epsf.tex neede

Brownian motion and diffusion: from stochastic processes to chaos and beyond

One century after Einstein's work, Brownian Motion still remains both a fundamental open issue and a continous source of inspiration for many areas of natural sciences. We first present a discussion about stochastic and deterministic approaches proposed in the literature to model the Brownian Motion and more general diffusive behaviours. Then, we focus on the problems concerning the determination of the microscopic nature of diffusion by means of data analysis. Finally, we discuss the general conditions required for the onset of large scale diffusive motion.Comment: RevTeX-4, 11 pages, 5 ps-figures. Chaos special issue "100 Years of Brownian Motion