Entropy production and thermal conductivity of a dilute gas

• DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2010.12.045
• Publication Date: 2011-01-09T09:21:06Z
• Authors: Yong-Jun Zhang
• Keywords: Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech); 0103 physical sciences; FOS: Physical sciences; Mathematical Physics (math-ph); 01 natural sciences; Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics; Mathematical Physics

7 pages, 1 figure<br/>It is known that the thermal conductivity of a dilute gas can be derived by using kinetic theory. We present here a new derivation by starting with two known entropy production principles: the steepest entropy ascent (SEA) principle and the maximum entropy production (MEP) principle. A remarkable feature of the new derivation is that it does not require the specification of the existence of the temperature gradient. The known result is reproduced in a similar form.<br/>