Thermal Equilibrium and Statistical Thermometers in Special Relativity

by: David Cubero, Jesús C Pascual, Jörn Dunkel, Peter Talkner, Peter Hänggi

Physical Review Letters, Vol. 99, No. 17. (2007)

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Abstract

There is an intense debate in the recent literature about the correct generalization of Maxwell's velocity distribution in special relativity. The most frequently discussed candidate distributions include the Jüttner function as well as modifications thereof. Here we report results from fully relativistic one-dimensional molecular dynamics simulations that resolve the ambiguity. The numerical evidence unequivocally favors the Jüttner distribution. Moreover, our simulations illustrate that the concept of “thermal equilibrium” extends naturally to special relativity only if a many-particle system is spatially confined. They make evident that “temperature” can be statistically defined and measured in an observer frame independent way.

@article{citeulike:2081823, abstract = {There is an intense debate in the recent literature about the correct generalization of Maxwell's velocity distribution in special relativity. The most frequently discussed candidate distributions include the J\üttner function as well as modifications thereof. Here we report results from fully relativistic one-dimensional molecular dynamics simulations that resolve the ambiguity. The numerical evidence unequivocally favors the J\üttner distribution. Moreover, our simulations illustrate that the concept of \“thermal equilibrium\” extends naturally to special relativity only if a many-particle system is spatially confined. They make evident that \“temperature\” can be statistically defined and measured in an observer frame independent way.}, author = {Cubero, David and Pascual, Jes\'us C. and Dunkel, J\"orn and Talkner, Peter and H\"anggi, Peter }, citeulike-article-id = {2081823}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.170601}, journal = {Physical Review Letters}, keywords = {relativity}, number = {17}, posted-at = {2007-12-09 15:50:38}, priority = {2}, publisher = {APS}, title = {Thermal Equilibrium and Statistical Thermometers in Special Relativity}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.170601}, volume = {99}, year = {2007} }

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TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2081823 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2081823 TI - Thermal Equilibrium and Statistical Thermometers in Special Relativity JF - Physical Review Letters VL - 99 IS - 17 PB - APS N2 - There is an intense debate in the recent literature about the correct generalization of Maxwell's velocity distribution in special relativity. The most frequently discussed candidate distributions include the Jüttner function as well as modifications thereof. Here we report results from fully relativistic one-dimensional molecular dynamics simulations that resolve the ambiguity. The numerical evidence unequivocally favors the Jüttner distribution. Moreover, our simulations illustrate that the concept of “thermal equilibrium” extends naturally to special relativity only if a many-particle system is spatially confined. They make evident that “temperature” can be statistically defined and measured in an observer frame independent way. KW - relativity AU - Cubero, David AU - Pascual, Jes\'us AU - Dunkel, J\"orn AU - Talkner, Peter AU - H\"anggi, Peter PY - 2007/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.170601 ER -

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