Relativistic Heat Conduction
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International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 48 (2005) 2397 2406 www.elsevier.com/locate/ijhmt Relativistic heat conduction Y.M. Ali *, L.C. Zhang School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, J07, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia Received 5 December 2003; received in revised form 5 January 2005 Available online 19 March 2005 Abstract The hyperbolic heat conduction equation (HHCE), which acknowledges the finite speed of heat propagation, is based on microscopic evidence from the kinetic theory and statistical mechanics. However, it was argued that the HHCE could violate the second law of thermodynamics. This paper shows that a HHCE like equation (RHCE) can be derived directly from the theory of relativity, as a direct consequence of space time duality, without any consider ation of the microstructure of the heat conducting medium. This approach results in an alternative expression for the heat flux vector that is more compatible with the second law. Therefore, the RHCE brings the classical field theory of heat conduction into agreement with other branches of modern physics. Ó 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Keywords: Relativity; Thermodynamics; Entropy; Hyperbolic above argument is true, it is a very strong and restrictive I think that theory cannot be fabricated out of the interpretation of the relativity theory. A weaker inter results of observation, but that it can only be pretation can be proposed: Relativity is concerned with invented. objects that move or propagate at speeds comparable Albert Einstein [1] with a limiting speed characteristic of the field or med ium involved. For example, electromagnetic objects propagate at speeds comparable with the maximum speed of propa 1. Introduction gation of an electromagnetic signal (photon), i.e. the speed of light in vacuum. Similarly, cosmological objects The theory of relativity is often overlooked within the move at significant speeds, when compared with the context of classical engineering sciences based on the fol maximum speed of propagation of a gravitational signal lowing argument: Relativity is concerned with objects (graviton). However, there are physical fields that are moving at speeds comparable with the speed of light, less fundamental in nature, for which the limiting speeds while most mechanical systems involve objects moving of propagation are (numerically) small compared with at speeds negligible compared with the speed of light; the speed of light. Yet, they still impose restrictions on therefore, relativistic effects can be ignored. While the the propagation of objects moving across them. For example, the potential field of a pressure wave propagat * Corresponding author. Fax: +61 2 9351 7060. ing through a fluid is restricted by the speed of sound in E mail address: [email protected] (Y.M. Ali). that fluid, especially near a unit Mach number. 0017 9310/$ see front matter Ó 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd. doi:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2005.02.003 2398 Y.M. Ali, L.C. Zhang / International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 48 (2005) 2397 2406 Nomenclature A [ ] relativistic operator Greek symbols c specific heat a thermal diffusivity C speed of heat (second sound) b arbitrary parameter d total derivative o partial derivative D substantial derivative h temperature dx,dy,dz spatial distances q density ds space like time distance r entropy production f, h arbitrary functions s space like time H heat flow vector s0 relaxation time i imaginary transformation i, j, k spatial unit vectors Other symbols k thermal conductivity $ gradient operator o time unit vector $2 Laplacian operator q heat flux vector h quad operator s specific entropy h2 dÕAlembertian operator t real time Æ vector dot product u specific energy \ intersection operator U source velocity vector ! implication operator x, y, z spatial dimensions A similar effect equally applies to heat conduction, 2. The hyperbolic heat conduction equation which can be viewed as propagation of hypothetical par ticles (phonons) in a hypothetical gas (historically know For any rigid stationary material without internal as ÔCaloricÕ). The limiting speed on heat propagation heat generation, energy balance within a control mass (the speed of second sound) has been measured in vari can be expressed as [13]: ous media [2 4]. A thermal Mach number has also been oh reported for heat conduction through solids [5,6]. Fur qc o þrÁq ¼ 0; ð1Þ thermore, thermal resonance has been suggested in cases t of high frequency periodic thermal loading [7,8]. where q is density, c is specific heat (at a given tempera The Fourier equation of heat conduction is funda ture h), q is the thermal heat flux vector, and $ is the gra mentally wrong because it assumes an infinite speed of dient operator: propagation of heat, which is physically inadmissible. This anomaly has been (supposedly) overcome by the o o o r¼ i þ j þ k: ð2Þ hyperbolic heat conduction equation (HHCE), which in ox oy oz cludes a component (presumably) recognising the finite speed of heat signals. The HHCE was developed based If the material is isotropic, homogeneous, and the on microscopic considerations [2,9,10] that are cumber variation in temperature is so small that material prop some, and seem to violate at least on statement of the erties can be assumed constant, then substituting Fou second law of thermodynamics [11]. rierÕs linear approximation of heat flux, This paper will show that the HHCE can be consis q ¼ krh; ð3Þ tently developed based on a weak interpretation of the theory of relativity, as originally proposed in [12], with into Eq. (1) leads to the well known Fourier equation of out any microscopic or material specific considerations. heat conduction: The following sections will argue that: (1) the HHCE oh does not really comply with the relativity theory, and ¼ ar2h; ð4Þ (2) that it can violate the second law of thermodynamics. ot The alternative model aims at overcoming both difficul where k is thermal conductivity, a k/(qc) is thermal ties, and hopes to help in resolving the existing contro diffusivity, and $2 is the Laplacian operator: versies about the heat equation. The new model of o2 o2 o2 heat conduction will bring it into better agreement with r2 ¼ þ þ : ð5Þ other branches of modern physics. ox2 oy2 oz2 Y.M. Ali, L.C. Zhang / International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 48 (2005) 2397 2406 2399 Several investigators have argued that Eq. (4) is fun equation), it is not conceptually relativistic. The laws of damentally wrong because it assumes an infinite speed of motion employed in the derivation of the HHCE are propagation of heat signals [14]. This means that a ther essentially Newtonian. The expression in Eq. (7), the mal disturbance can be detected instantaneously at an misleading symbol C, and even Eq. (6), are only first or infinitely far distance from the source, which is physi der approximations of some very complex and cumber cally unacceptable. One of the implications of the theory some statistical computations. These computations do of relativity is the principle of ‘‘no action at a distance’’ not consider the theory of relativity at all, and are classic which requires a finite speed of propagation of any sig in nature. A relativistic treatment of the problem was at nal, and necessitates a time lag between a cause and its tempted by some authors [22 25], by including a relativ effect [15]. Morse and Feshbach [16] recognised this istic correction due to the speed of the heat carrying problem, and proposed that Eq. (4) should be modified particles, e.g. electrons. Yet, this is followed by classical into a more acceptable (Telegraph) form: statistical treatments that are mathematically complex, and lead to Eqs. (6) and (7) as first order approxima 1 o2h 1 oh þ ¼r2h: ð6Þ tions. A review of various approaches to deriving Eqs. 2 o 2 o C t a t (6) and (7) can be found in [26]. This form is known as MaxwellÕs equation, because it resembles the equation of propagation of an electromag netic field, i.e. light. However, in Eq. (6) the speed of 3. Controversies about the HHCE heat propagation, C, is not a fundamental property of the field, but is related to the mean free path of gas mol This artificiality in the relationship between the ecules. The idea is extended to solids, by assuming that HHCE and the relativity theory is not the only serious heat is conducted by gas like phonon or electron objection facing that equation. Several investigators, streams. e.g. [27], argued that Eq. (6) is not necessary because, Tisza (1938) and Landau (1941) predicted that the for most practical situations, C2 is very large compared speed of heat can be different from the speed of sound with a such that the second order term is negligible, and and called it the speed of second sound [17]. Peshkov Eq. (6) will converge quantitatively to Eq. (4). This argu [3] found experimentally that in liquid Helium II, it is ment can be challenged on two grounds. Firstly, there one order of magnitude less than the speed of sound. are experimental evidences that C is not always very There are evidences to suggest the same ratio or more large. A relaxation time up to 10 s has been measured for non homogeneous solids [4,18]. in non homogeneous materials [18]. Polymeric and vitre Eq. (6) is often attributed to Cattaneo [19], Vernotte ous materials are important engineering materials that [20], as well as Chester [2] who considered the case of are almost thermal insulators. While experimental data second sound in solids. Based on the kinetic theory cal may not be available yet, there is no reason to believe culations and Boltzmann equations for a rarefied gas that C, for these materials, should as high as for metallic [21], they proposed that FourierÕs linear heat flux, Eq.