Frame dependence, entropy, entropy flux, and wave speeds in mixtures of gases (Q761314)

The authors' paper is an investigation of the kinetic theory of gases. It documents that the principle of material frame indifference is not supported by the kinetic theory of gases. However, it also indicates that the frame dependent terms are extremely small and that they will only be noticed in very dilute gases. The authors further show that the same terms which violate material frame indifference also permit finite speeds of diffusion, heat conduction and shear waves. The values of these speeds are calculated. These observations use a level of description on which the entropy has non-equilibrium contributions and the entropy deviates from the quotient of heat flux and absolute temperature; the extra contributions are calculated. The authors further show that kinetic theory generalizes the law of Fick, Fourier and Navier-Stokes and provides finite speeds of waves of concentration, temperature and shear. Moreover, the theory permits the calculation of entropy and entropy flux in non-equilibrium and it confirms Onsager relations in a rotating mixture of ideal gases.