Realizability conditions for relativistic gases with a non-zero heat flux

Abstract

This work introduces a limitation on the minimum value that can be assumed by the energy of a relativistic gas in the presence of a non-zero heat flux. Such a limitation arises from the non-negativity of the particle distribution function and is found by solving the Hamburger moment problem. The resulting limitation is seen to recover the Taub inequality in the case of a zero heat flux but is more strict if a non-zero heat flux is considered. These results imply that, in order for the distribution function to be non-negative, (i) the energy of a gas must be larger than a minimum threshold; (ii) the heat flux, on the other hand, has a maximum value determined by the energy and the pressure tensor; and (iii) there exists an upper limit for the adiabatic index Γ of the relativistic equation of state and that limit decreases in the presence of a heat flux and pressure anisotropy, asymptoting to a value Γ = 1. The latter point implies that the Synge equation of state is formally incompatible with a relativistic gas showing a heat flux, except in certain gas states.