Microscopic approach to entropy production (Q2852208)

In the paper microscopic transport equations for the entropy density as well as for the entropy time correlation function are derived in the framework of linear irreversible thermodynamics. Moreover a dissipation functional is introduced which allows to include a dissipative dynamics within the extended dynamical density functional theory. In particular in the hydrodynamic limit in principle one gets a close system of evolution equations that can be used to describe a variety of relaxation processes, e.g. crystallization processes from an undercooled melt.NEWLINENEWLINEThe results are based on linear irreversible thermodynamics and therefore restricted to situations sufficiently close to equilibrium when the local formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics is valid. The explicit example of non-isothermal colloidal suspensions is illustrated in detail in order to show the viability of the theory.