The zeroth law in quasi-homogeneous thermodynamics and black holes

Motivated by black holes thermodynamics, we consider the zeroth law of thermodynamics for systems whose entropy is a quasi-homogeneous function of the extensive variables. We show that the generalized Gibbs–Duhem identity and the Maxwell construction for phase coexistence based on the standard zerot...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alessandro Bravetti, Christine Gruber, Cesar S. Lopez-Monsalvo, Francisco Nettel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2017-11-01
Series:Physics Letters B
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037026931730802X
Description
Summary:Motivated by black holes thermodynamics, we consider the zeroth law of thermodynamics for systems whose entropy is a quasi-homogeneous function of the extensive variables. We show that the generalized Gibbs–Duhem identity and the Maxwell construction for phase coexistence based on the standard zeroth law are incompatible in this case. We argue that the generalized Gibbs–Duhem identity suggests a revision of the zeroth law which in turns permits to reconsider Maxwell's construction in analogy with the standard case. The physical feasibility of our proposal is considered in the particular case of black holes.
ISSN:0370-2693
1873-2445