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Transition in the equilibrium distribution function of relativistic particles
M Mendoza1, N A M Araújo, S Succi
1Computational Physics for Engineering Materials, IfB, ETH Zürich, Schafmattstrasse 6, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland. millmen@gmail.com
Scientific Reports
|September 1, 2012
Summary
Relativistic fluids transition from single to bimodal velocity distributions with increasing temperature, unlike non-relativistic gases. This critical phenomenon, driven by thermal energy and the speed of light limit, occurs across dimensions.
Area of Science:
- Relativistic fluid dynamics
- Statistical mechanics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Non-relativistic gases exhibit monotonic broadening of velocity distributions with increasing temperature.
- Relativistic systems are subject to the universal speed of light limit, influencing particle behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze the transition from single-peaked to bimodal velocity distributions in relativistic fluids.
- Investigate the role of temperature and the speed of light constraint.
- Characterize this transition as a critical phenomenon.
Main Methods:
- Study of Bose-Einstein, Fermi-Dirac, and Maxwell-Jüttner distributions.
- Analysis of critical phenomena in one, two, and three dimensions.
- Investigation of transition nature (continuous or discontinuous) based on group velocity.
Main Results:
- Relativistic fluids show a transition to bimodal velocity distributions with increasing temperature.
- This transition is qualitatively similar across different relativistic distributions.
- The transition can be continuous or discontinuous, depending on group velocity.
Conclusions:
- The speed of light constraint fundamentally alters velocity distributions in relativistic fluids compared to non-relativistic gases.
- The observed transition is a critical phenomenon with implications for high-energy physics and astrophysics.
- A potential experiment in graphene using Johnson-Nyquist noise measurement is proposed for two-dimensional systems.
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