Thermodynamic Theory of Phase Transitions in Driven Lattice Gases

TL;DR

This paper develops an approximate thermodynamic framework for phase transitions in driven lattice gases, deriving an equation of state and analyzing phase coexistence under nonequilibrium conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a van der Waals-type equation of state for driven lattice gases and applies Maxwell's construction to describe phase transitions.

Findings

Phase transition from homogeneous to coexisting phases identified

Equation of state for nonequilibrium system formulated

Phase coexistence conditions derived

Abstract

We formulate an approximate thermodynamic theory of the phase transition in driven lattice gases with attractive nearest-neighbor interactions. We construct the van der Waals equation of state for a driven system where a nonequilibrium chemical potential can be expressed as a function of density and driving field. A Maxwell's construction leads to the phase transition from a homogeneous fluid phase to the coexisting phases of gas and liquid.