A geometric approach to the concept of extensivity in thermodynamics (Q2633030)

The author presents the concept of extensivity for equilibrium thermodynamics through a geometric point of view. He considers the finite-dimensional manifold $M$ of equilibrium states of a pure and simple thermodynamic system. He recalls the definition and properties of degree-1 homogeneous functions and diffeomorphisms on an open subset $U$ of an $n$-dimensional vector space $V$, which allows to define the notion of degree-1 homogeneous functions on an open subset $U$ of $M$. $M$ is supposed to be smooth and to be equipped with an atlas $\mathcal{A}_{\mathcal{H}}$ which is compatible with the pseudogroup $\mathcal{H}$ of transformations on $\mathbb{ R}^{n}$ consisting of the restrictions of degree-1 homogeneous diffeomorphisms on $\mathbb{R}^{n}$. This atlas induces a vector field $\rho $. The author defines the notion of extensive function on an open subset $U$ of $M$ as a function $f\in C^{\infty }(U)$ which satisfies $df(\rho )=f$, following Euler's characterization of degree-1 homogeneous functions on an open subset $U$ of a vector space $V$. He proves that a function $f\in C^{\infty }(U)$ is extensive if and only if, for every chart $(W,\phi )\in \mathcal{A}_{\mathcal{H}}$, with $W\subset U$, $f\circ \phi ^{-1}$ is a degree-1 homogeneous function on $\mathbb{R}^{n}$. He then defines the notion of extensive variable on $M$ as a coordinate function of a chart in $ \mathcal{A}_{\mathcal{H}}$. He also defines the notions of extensive chart, structure, domain, manifold, differential form and variables. He proves that every manifold $M$ which is endowed with a vector field $X$ and a smooth subatlas comprising charts where $X$ has the form of a radial vector field is furnished with an extensive structure. He derives consequences and he presents examples of such properties. In the last part of his paper, the author analyzes submanifolds which are transversal to the extensive structure. He recalls that every affine manifold is called radiant if it is endowed with an atlas compatible with the pseudogroup of affine transformations on the Euclidean space (affine manifold) and if the coordinate transformations on this manifold are restricted to be linear mappings. Every radiant manifold is endowed with a locally-radial vector field $\rho $. The main result of this part proves that a submanifold $M$ containing no singular points of $\rho $ is transversal to $\rho $ if and only if it is locally defined by nonvanishing extensive functions which are unique modulo scale. The author finally gives examples of such situations.