The Statistical Mechanical Theory of Transport Processes I. General Theory

Abstract

Outlines are sketched for a general statistical mechanical theory of transport processes; e.g., diffusion, heat transfer, fluid flow, and response to time-dependent external force fields. In the case of gases the theory leads to the Maxwell-Boltzmann integro-differential equation of transport. In the case of liquids and solutions, it leads to a generalized theory of Brownian motion, in which the friction constant is explicitly related to the intermolecular forces acting in the system. Specific applications are postponed for treatment in later articles.

Identifiers

DOI

10.1063/1.1724117

Citations and references