Thermodynamic blocking in self-gravitating systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of thermodynamic blocking in self-gravitating systems, showing that uniform density states are maximal entropy configurations under slow perturbations, highlighting the formalism's importance beyond kinetic theory.

Contribution

It demonstrates thermodynamic blocking as a new phenomenon in self-gravitating systems, emphasizing the formalism's role when kinetic equations are inadequate.

Findings

Uniform density states are maximal entropy under slow perturbations

Thermodynamic formalism remains useful when kinetic equations break down

Thermodynamic blocking parallels kinetic blocking phenomena

Abstract

Building upon a thermodynamic formalism, we show that self-gravitating systems in hydrostatic equilibrium with a uniform density are maximal entropy states when submitted to perturbations which are slow on dynamical timescale. We coin this phenomenon "thermodynamic blocking", given its similarity with the more general "kinetic blocking". This result underlines the importance of the thermodynamic formalism which proves useful when kinetic equations break down.