“Lagrangian Temperature”: Derivation and Physical Meaning for Systems Described by Kappa Distributions

The paper studies the “Lagrangian temperature” defined through the entropy maximization in the canonical ensemble, which is the negative inverse Lagrangian multiplier corresponding to the constraint of internal energy. The Lagrangian temperature is derived for systems out of thermal equilibrium desc...

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Main Author: George Livadiotis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-07-01
Series:Entropy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/16/8/4290
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author George Livadiotis
author_facet George Livadiotis
author_sort George Livadiotis
collection DOAJ
description The paper studies the “Lagrangian temperature” defined through the entropy maximization in the canonical ensemble, which is the negative inverse Lagrangian multiplier corresponding to the constraint of internal energy. The Lagrangian temperature is derived for systems out of thermal equilibrium described by kappa distributions such as space plasmas. The physical meaning of temperature is manifested by the equivalency of two different definitions, that is, through Maxwell’s kinetic theory and Clausius’ thermodynamics. The equivalency of the two definitions is true either for systems at thermal equilibrium described by Maxwell distributions or for systems out of thermal equilibrium described by kappa distributions, and gives the meaning of the actual temperature, that is, the real or measured temperature. However, the third definition, that of the Lagrangian temperature, coincides with the primary two definitions only at thermal equilibrium, and thus, in the general case of systems out of thermal equilibrium, it does not represent the actual temperature, but it is rather a function of this. The paper derives and examines the exact expression and physical meaning of the Lagrangian temperature, showing that it has essentially different content to what is commonly thought. This is achieved by: (i) maximizing the entropy in the continuous description of energy within the general framework of non-extensive statistical mechanics, (ii) using the concept of the “N-particle” kappa distribution, which is governed by a special kappa index that is invariant of the degrees of freedom and the number of particles, and (iii) determining the appropriate scales of length and speed involved in the phase-space microstates. Finally, the paper demonstrates the behavior of the Lagrangian against the actual temperature in various datasets of space plasmas.
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spelling doaj.art-b8ea0ccf7bf54816a16187e94992301a2022-12-22T01:58:20ZengMDPI AGEntropy1099-43002014-07-011684290430810.3390/e16084290e16084290“Lagrangian Temperature”: Derivation and Physical Meaning for Systems Described by Kappa DistributionsGeorge Livadiotis0Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Rd, San Antonio, TX-78238, USAThe paper studies the “Lagrangian temperature” defined through the entropy maximization in the canonical ensemble, which is the negative inverse Lagrangian multiplier corresponding to the constraint of internal energy. The Lagrangian temperature is derived for systems out of thermal equilibrium described by kappa distributions such as space plasmas. The physical meaning of temperature is manifested by the equivalency of two different definitions, that is, through Maxwell’s kinetic theory and Clausius’ thermodynamics. The equivalency of the two definitions is true either for systems at thermal equilibrium described by Maxwell distributions or for systems out of thermal equilibrium described by kappa distributions, and gives the meaning of the actual temperature, that is, the real or measured temperature. However, the third definition, that of the Lagrangian temperature, coincides with the primary two definitions only at thermal equilibrium, and thus, in the general case of systems out of thermal equilibrium, it does not represent the actual temperature, but it is rather a function of this. The paper derives and examines the exact expression and physical meaning of the Lagrangian temperature, showing that it has essentially different content to what is commonly thought. This is achieved by: (i) maximizing the entropy in the continuous description of energy within the general framework of non-extensive statistical mechanics, (ii) using the concept of the “N-particle” kappa distribution, which is governed by a special kappa index that is invariant of the degrees of freedom and the number of particles, and (iii) determining the appropriate scales of length and speed involved in the phase-space microstates. Finally, the paper demonstrates the behavior of the Lagrangian against the actual temperature in various datasets of space plasmas.http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/16/8/4290kappa distributionstemperaturespace plasmas
spellingShingle George Livadiotis
“Lagrangian Temperature”: Derivation and Physical Meaning for Systems Described by Kappa Distributions
Entropy
kappa distributions
temperature
space plasmas
title “Lagrangian Temperature”: Derivation and Physical Meaning for Systems Described by Kappa Distributions
title_full “Lagrangian Temperature”: Derivation and Physical Meaning for Systems Described by Kappa Distributions
title_fullStr “Lagrangian Temperature”: Derivation and Physical Meaning for Systems Described by Kappa Distributions
title_full_unstemmed “Lagrangian Temperature”: Derivation and Physical Meaning for Systems Described by Kappa Distributions
title_short “Lagrangian Temperature”: Derivation and Physical Meaning for Systems Described by Kappa Distributions
title_sort lagrangian temperature derivation and physical meaning for systems described by kappa distributions
topic kappa distributions
temperature
space plasmas
url http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/16/8/4290
work_keys_str_mv AT georgelivadiotis lagrangiantemperaturederivationandphysicalmeaningforsystemsdescribedbykappadistributions