Repository logo
 

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of an interface.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Schweizer, Marco 
Öttinger, Hans Christian 

Abstract

Interfacial thermodynamics has deep ramifications in understanding the boundary conditions of transport theories. We present a formulation of local equilibrium for interfaces that extends the thermodynamics of the "dividing surface," as introduced by Gibbs, to nonequilibrium settings such as evaporation or condensation. By identifying the precise position of the dividing surface in the interfacial region with a gauge degree of freedom, we exploit gauge-invariance requirements to consistently define the intensive variables for the interface. The model is verified under stringent conditions by employing high-precision nonequilibrium molecular-dynamics simulations of a coexisting vapor-liquid Lennard-Jones fluid. We conclude that the interfacial temperature is determined using the surface tension as a "thermometer," and it can be significantly different from the temperatures of the adjacent phases. Our findings lay foundations for nonequilibrium interfacial thermodynamics.

Description

Keywords

0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering

Journal Title

Phys Rev E

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2470-0045
2470-0053

Volume Title

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)
Sponsorship
Support provided by the European Commission through the MODIFY (FP7-NMP-2008-SMALL-2, Code 228320) research project is gratefully acknowledged.