Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5496039 Annals of Physics 2016 21 Pages PDF
Abstract
The validity of the concept of negative temperature has been recently challenged by arguing that the Boltzmann entropy (that allows negative temperatures) is inconsistent from a mathematical and statistical point of view, whereas the Gibbs entropy (that does not admit negative temperatures) provides the correct definition for the microcanonical entropy. Here we prove that the Boltzmann entropy is thermodynamically and mathematically consistent. Analytical results on two systems supporting negative temperatures illustrate the scenario we propose. In addition we numerically study a lattice system to show that negative temperature equilibrium states are accessible and obey standard statistical mechanics prediction.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Physics and Astronomy Physics and Astronomy (General)
Authors
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