Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics [antikvár]

Foreword by the Editor True thermodynamics, as distinct from equilibrium or reversible thermodynamics, (also called non-equilibrium or irreversible thermodynamics) is one of the newest disciplines of physics. The theoretical principles were published by Laks Onsager in "The Physical Review" in 1931, a time when quantum mechanics, for instance, was already a well-defined formal disciphne. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics is the universal theory of macroscopic processes and, as these processes are irreversible, it is hardly necessary to stress its importance, both theoretical and practical. A year ago Labs Onsagbe was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry in recognition of his estabhshment of this discipline. These facts more than justify the inclusion of the work of Professor Gyarmati, founder of the modern Hungarian school of thermodynamics, in the "Engineering Science Library". The importance of this work within the international technical hterature can best be appreciated by reference to recent developments in thermodynamics. Following Onsager's fundamental work, little progress was made in this field up to the end of World War II. Subsequently the German school of J.Meixnbb, the Belgian school of I.Prigogine, the Dutch school of S.R. de Geoot and the Hungarian school of I. Gyarmati developed the theory and applied it on a large scale. As a result of intensive research, the theory seemed to be substantially complete about 1960, although it lacked the uniformity and completeness characteristic of the mechanics of continua and electrodynamics. Specifically, the pertinent publications revealed the absence of a unified field theory and of a universal variational principle which, like Hamilton's theory for reversible processes, would round off the existing theory. The first shortcoming is immediately apparent if we consider the brilliant completion of the mechanics of continua by C.Teuesdell and W.Noll. As for the variational principle, it is sufficient to recall the numerous experiments carried out since about 1964 in connection with the generalization of the minimum principle of entropy production, valid for steady-state processes only. The English edition of Professor Gyarmati's work, substantially unchanged from the original Hungarian edition, is presented in the hope that it will convince the reader that the Hungarian school of thermodynamics has made an important contribution to the elimination of the above-mentioned shortcomings. Berlin, Autumn 1969 István Szabó