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Thermal equilibrium and statistical thermometers in special relativity
David Cubero1, Jesús Casado-Pascual, Jörn Dunkel
1Física Teórica, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado de Correos 1065, Sevilla 41080, Spain.
Physical Review Letters
|November 13, 2007
Summary
Relativistic molecular dynamics simulations confirm the Jüttner distribution as the correct generalization of Maxwell's velocity distribution. The study also shows thermal equilibrium and temperature are observer-independent in confined relativistic systems.
Area of Science:
- Relativistic statistical mechanics
- Computational physics
- Kinetic theory
Background:
- The generalization of Maxwell's velocity distribution to special relativity is debated.
- Candidate distributions include the Jüttner function and its modifications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To resolve the ambiguity in relativistic velocity distributions.
- To investigate the concept of thermal equilibrium in special relativity.
- To determine the observer-independence of temperature in relativistic systems.
Main Methods:
- Fully relativistic one-dimensional molecular dynamics simulations.
- Numerical simulations to analyze particle velocity distributions.
- Statistical analysis of simulated many-particle systems.
Main Results:
- Numerical evidence strongly supports the Jüttner distribution.
- The Jüttner function is favored over other relativistic generalizations.
- Thermal equilibrium in special relativity requires spatial confinement.
- Temperature is statistically defined and measured independently of the observer frame.
Conclusions:
- The Jüttner distribution is the correct relativistic generalization of Maxwell's velocity distribution.
- Spatial confinement is crucial for defining thermal equilibrium in special relativity.
- Statistical temperature measurements are invariant across different observer frames.
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