Three Views of a Secret in Relativistic Thermodynamics

TL;DR

This paper explores three different perspectives in relativistic thermodynamics derived from foundational formulations, highlighting how choices in energy-momentum decomposition and volume definition lead to distinct views.

Contribution

It clarifies the non-uniqueness in decomposing energy-momentum and examines how volume definitions influence relativistic thermodynamic perspectives.

Findings

Three distinct views of relativistic thermodynamics derived from van Kampen and Israel formulations.

Decomposition of energy-momentum into reversible and irreversible parts is not unique.

Differences in finite volume definitions affect the resulting thermodynamic perspectives.

Abstract

It has been shown three different views in relativistic thermodynamics can be derived from the basic formulation proposed by van Kampen and Israel. The way to decompose energy-momentum into the reversible and irreversible parts is not uniquely determined, and different choices result in different views. The effect of difference in the definition of a finite volume is also considered.