Expanded Focus on Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics

Abstract

The field of non-equilibrium thermodynamics is currently a subject of increasing interest. Several books on new developments and applications have appeared, providing a general thermodynamic basis for a multitude of rate processes. The classical theory has been recently extended to deal with transport through phase boundaries and to non-equilibrium quantum systems. Optimization of entropy production is important in chemical and mechanical engineering. Several lines of research are addressing the non-linear regime. These generalizations give hope for more consistent thermodynamic modeling in the future, for yet a wider range of applications. The International Journal of Thermophysics, with a tradition for reports on high quality experimental, computational, and theoretical results in thermophysics, has therefore found it timely to accept responsibility for assisting in the development of this branch of thermophysics. By naming a new Associate Editor with special responsibility for non-equilibrium thermodynamics, we hope to give the field more attention. Our hope is that a synergy can be realized between our traditional target group of authors and a new group of authors who are experienced in developing and using non-equilibrium thermodynamics to explain, understand, and describe processes with several driving forces. As a first move to foster such a development, this issue is publishing a collection of six articles, based on invited talks presented at the 6th International Workshop of