Metric geometry of equilibrium thermodynamics

Abstract

It is shown that the principal empirical laws of equilibrium thermodynamics can be brought into correspondence with the mathematical axioms of an abstract metric space. This formal correspondence permits one to associate with the thermodynamic formalism a geometrical aspect, with intrinsic metric structure, which is distinct from that arising from graphical representations of equilibrium surfaces in phase space.

Identifiers

DOI

10.1063/1.431689

Citations and references