Onsager reciprocity in premelting solids

TL;DR

This paper investigates the diffusive behavior of colloidal particles in premelting solids, deriving key transport coefficients and confirming Onsager reciprocity through theoretical analysis and experimental validation.

Contribution

It provides the first derivation of the Dufour coefficient in premelting solids and verifies Onsager reciprocity in this unique phase.

Findings

Good agreement with experimental data for diffusion coefficients

Derived an expression for the Dufour coefficient in premelting solids

Confirmed Onsager reciprocal relations in the context of premelting solids

Abstract

The diffusive motion of colloidal particles dispersed in a premelting solid is analyzed within the framework of irreversible thermodynamics. We determine the mass diffusion coefficient, thermal diffusion coefficient and Soret coefficient of the particles in the dilute limit, and find good agreement with experimental data. In contrast to liquid suspensions, the unique nature of premelting solids allows us to derive an expression for the Dufour coefficient and independently verify the Onsager reciprocal relation coupling diffusion to the flow of heat.