The molecular chaos hypothesis is an assumption in statistical physics that there are no correlations between the states of colliding particles. This assumption was introduced by James Maxwell in 1867 [1] . This assumption, also called in the works of Ludwig Boltzmann the “collision hypothesis” ( German: Stosszahlansatz ), simplifies many calculations.
In particular, the molecular chaos hypothesis implicitly played a key role in the Boltzmann H-theorem , which he obtained in 1872 [2] . This theorem, using the principles of molecular kinetic theory ( the Boltzmann kinetic equation ), shows that the entropy of a gas increases irreversibly as the gas molecules collide.
However, Johann Loshmidt noted in 1876 that it is impossible to deduce the irreversibility of the process from the laws of dynamics symmetric in time ( the Loshmidt paradox ).
Resolution of this paradox was found in 1895. It consisted in the fact that the particle velocities after the collision are no longer independent. Assuming that this correlation can be ignored, Boltzmann thereby introduced the asymmetry of time.
Notes
- ↑ Maxwell, JC On the Dynamical Theory of Gases // Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. - 1867. - Vol. 157. - P. 49. - DOI : 10.1098 / rstl . 1867.0004 .
- ↑ L. Boltzmann, “ Weitere Studien über das Wärmegleichgewicht unter Gasmolekülen .” Sitzungsberichte Akademie der Wissenschaften 66 (1872): 275-370.
Links
- Computational methods in chemical kinetics / L. S. Polak , M. Ya. Goldenberg , A. A. Levitsky . - M .: Nauka, 1984 .-- 280 s. - Note : Information on the molecular chaos hypothesis.