Application of a thermodynamical framework for transport analysis to the derivation of Dirac's value function

• Main Authors: Picone, Rico A. R, Sidles, John A, Garbini, Joseph L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 10-05-2016
• Subjects: Physics - Statistical Mechanics
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1605.02851

From a non-equilibrium thermodynamical framework for transport analysis based
on Onsager's Regression Hypothesis, we derive the value function first
described by Dirac for isotope separation. This application of the framework is
interpreted as both further validation of the transport framework and as a
generalization of Dirac's value function. The framework for the analysis of
transport phenomena is introduced, first. From the entropy of mixing, and in
the presence of gradients in thermodynamic potentials, this framework generates
a dynamical transport model from which Dirac's value function is derived as a
measure of separative work performed. Dirac's value function is thus shown to
be a measure of separative work for systems that are described by the entropy
of mixing. As a further demonstration of its generality, the result is applied
to a two-quantity, single spatial-dimension spin magnetization system.