Dynamic mean-field models from a nonequilibrium thermodynamics perspective

Hutter, M., Karlin, I.V. and Ottinger, H.C. (2003) Dynamic mean-field models from a nonequilibrium thermodynamics perspective. Physical Review E, 68 (1), 16115. (doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.68.016115).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Complicated dynamic models are often approximated by introducing mean-field approximations and closures. The focus here is on examining such mean-field models using nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Two illustrative examples are studied in terms of the double-generator general equation for the nonequilibrium reversible-irreversible coupling (GENERIC) framework. First, it is shown that a model for the coil-stretch transition of long chains in strong elongation flows as proposed by de Gennes is thermodynamically admissible. In the second example, we study a Gaussian approximation, which is used to simplify the effect of hydrodynamic interactions in polymer solutions. This approximation, which is known to be in conflict with the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, is identified as defective directly when formulated in the thermodynamic formalism.

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