A geometric description of blackbody-like systems in thermodynamic equilibrium (Q1641888)

In this paper the author presents a geometric formulation of the problem of blackbody-like systems at the thermodynamics equilibrium. This formulation is based on Riemannian and contact geometry formalism. The geometric approach to thermodynamics started in the 70s of the XX century, when Weinhold studied the relationship between the empirical laws of thermodynamics and the axioms of abstract metric spaces. This series of investigations culminated in the introduction of the program of \textit{geometrothermodynamics} in [\textit{H. Quevedo}, J. Math. Phys. 48, No. 1, 013506, 14 p. (2007; Zbl 1121.80011)]. The aim of this program is to represent thermodynamic quantities in terms of Legendre-invariant metrics and use curvature to characterise phase transitions. In the present paper the author introduces the geometrothemodynamic construction of a generalisation of the blackbodies using a neo-Gibbsian approach. The starting point is the equation of state given by the blackbodies, as given by following generalisation of the Stefan-Boltzmann's law for grey bodies \(S\left( U,V;a,b \right)=b U^{a}V^{1-a}\). Here \(S\), \(U\), and \(V\), are entropy, internal energy and volume. This model depends on two arbitrary coefficients \(a\) and \(b\) and contains the usual Stefan-Boltzmann's law as a particular case. The model is analysed in terms of the associated Riemann metric on the \(\mathcal{T}\) thermodynamic phase space. This phase space is a \((2+1)\)-dimensional contact manifold -- an odd-dimensional generalisation of a sympectic manifold -- admitting a local coordinate representation satisfying Darboux's theorem, given by the 1-form \(\Theta\). The thermodynamic equilibrium phase space \(\mathcal{E}\) is the integral manifold of the extensive coordinates, and is embedded in \(\mathcal{T}\) via the map \(\varphi\colon\mathcal{E}\to\mathcal{T}\), such that \(\varphi^{*}\left( \Theta \right)=\theta=0\). This allows to write down a metric \(g_{S}\) on \(\mathcal{E}\) from a Legendre-invariant metric on \(\mathcal{T}\). In particular the determinant of such a metric allows the author to impose some physical conditions on the value of the free parameters of the theory. These conditions are obtained from the non-degeneracy of the metric and the analysis of the associated equation of state, and are expressed as simple inequalities. In particular, the inadmissible value \(a=1/2\) splits the parameter space into two parts, according to the sign of \(\det g_{S}\). In the final section the author computes the scalar curvature associated with the metric. In such a case the scalar curvature is identically zero -- that is the associated Riemann variety is flat -- and therefore according to the physical interpretation of geometric relations proposed in [\textit{G. Ruppeiner}, ``Thermodynamics: a Riemannian geometric model'', Phys. Rev. A 20, No. 4, 1608--1613 (1979; \url{doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.20.1608})] this implies that in the presented model there is no internal interaction. The paper is interesting and well written. It can attract both physicists working in theoretical thermodynamics and pure or applied mathematicians working in geometry and its applications. In particular, the geometric structure of the integral manifold \(\mathcal{E}\) can give rise to further studies. For instance, the fact that its scalar curvature is identically zero implies that this surface is obtained by glueing together pieces of planes and cylinders [\textit{M. P. do Carmo}, Differential geometry of curves and surfaces. With a new preface by the author. Revised and updated 2nd edition of the 1976 edition published by Prentice-Hall. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications (2016; Zbl 1352.53002)].