Comment on "Failure of the work-Hamiltonian connection for free-energy calculations" by Jose M. G. Vilar and J. Miguel Rubi

TL;DR

This paper critiques Vilar and Rubi's arguments against the work-Hamiltonian connection, suggesting that their reasoning could undermine the fundamental statistical mechanical expression of free energy.

Contribution

It highlights potential implications of Vilar and Rubi's critique on the foundational statistical mechanical formula for free energy.

Findings

Vilar and Rubi's arguments challenge the work-Hamiltonian connection

If valid, their critique could undermine the statistical mechanical free-energy expression

The paper clarifies the implications of their critique for thermodynamics

Abstract

I point out that the arguments raised by Vilar and Rubi against the work-Hamiltonian connection in free-energy calculations imply, if correct, the failure of the statistical mechanical expression of the thermodynamical free-energy via the logarithm of the partition function.