On the Statistical Foundations of Irreversible Thermodynamics

Abstract

We briefly, and partially, consider aspects of the present status of phenomenological irreversible thermodynamics and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. After short comments on Classical Irreversible Thermodynamics, its conceptual and practical shortcomings are pointed out, as well as the efforts undertaken to go beyond its limits, consisting of particular approaches to a more general theory of Irreversible Thermodynamics. In particular, a search for statistical-mechanical foundations of Irreversible Thermodynamics, namely, the construction of a statistical thermodynamics, are based on the Non-equilibrium Statistical Operator Method. This important theory for the treatment of phenomena at the macroscopic level, is based on a microscopic molecular description in the context of a nonequilibrium ensemble formalism. We draw attention to the fact that this method may be considered to be emcompassed within Jaynes' Predictive Statistical Mechanics and based on the principle of maximization of informational entropy. Finally, we describe how, in fact, the statistical method provides foundations to phenomenological irreversible thermodynamics, thus giving rise to what can be referred to as Informational Statistical Thermodynamics.