Role of thermodynamics in extensions of mesoscopic dynamical theories

Abstract

Complex macroscopic systems (like for instance those encountered in nanotechnology and biology) need to be investigated in a family of mesoscopic theories involving varying amount of details. In this paper we formulate a general thermodynamics providing a universal framework for such multiscale viewpoint of mesoscopic dynamics. We then discuss its role in making extensions (i.e. in lifting a mesoscopic theory to a more microscopic level that involves more details).

Rational extended thermodynamics of a rarefied polyatomic gas with molecular relaxation processes

“…A theory of viscous heat-conducting fluids based on TIP is the well-known Navier-Stokes Fourier theory of the Newtonian fluids. Nowadays, however, there exist increasing demands for deeper understanding of strong nonequilibrium phenomena in polyatomic gases, that is, the phenomena out of local equilibrium in nano-technology, space science, molecular biology, and so on [9][10][11][12][13][14][15].…”

Extended Thermodynamics of Rarefied Polyatomic Gases: 15-Field Theory Incorporating Relaxation Processes of Molecular Rotation and Vibration

“…Several attempts have been done in order to overcome TIP. These are, for example, Extended Irreversible Thermodynamics [ 6 , 7 ], Rational Extended Thermodynamics [ 8 , 9 ], and GENERIC, which is an acronym for General Equation for Non-Equilibrium Reversible-Irreversible Coupling [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. A first tentative of comparison among different approaches of nonequilibrium thermodynamics has been made in [ 15 ].…”