Geometric Foundation of Thermo-Statistics, Phase Transitions, Second Law of Thermodynamics, but without Thermodynamic Limit

D. H. E. Gross

Published 2002-01-15Version 1

A geometric foundation thermo-statistics is presented with the only axiomatic assumption of Boltzmann's principle S(E,N,V)=k\ln W. This relates the entropy to the geometric area e^{S(E,N,V)/k} of the manifold of constant energy in the finite-N-body phase space. From the principle, all thermodynamics and especially all phenomena of phase transitions and critical phenomena can unambiguously be identified for even small systems. The topology of the curvature matrix C(E,N) of S(E,N) determines regions of pure phases, regions of phase separation, and (multi-)critical points and lines. Within Boltzmann's principle, Statistical Mechanics becomes a geometric theory addressing the whole ensemble or the manifold of all points in phase space which are consistent with the few macroscopic conserved control parameters. This interpretation leads to a straight derivation of irreversibility and the Second Law of Thermodynamics out of the time-reversible, microscopic, mechanical dynamics. This is all possible without invoking the thermodynamic limit, extensivity, or concavity of S(E,N,V). The main obstacle against the Second Law, the conservation of the phase-space volume due to Liouville is overcome by realizing that a macroscopic theory like Thermodynamics cannot distinguish a fractal distribution in phase space from its closure.