STATISTICAL MECHANICS OF CERTAIN HYDRODYNAMIC DISPERSION PHENOMENA

This paper explores the extent of an analogy postulated earlier between the usual energy-based statistical mechanics and mass-dispersion phenomena. It is shown that in the equilibrium case the interaction function as used in the energy-based statistical mechanics of solids or weakly coupled gases entails a corresponding result in mass-dispersion systems. Examples of specific transport equations are calculated. The analogy can also be extended to irreversible thermodynamics. It is shown that Ziegler's generalized Onsager relations entail corresponding results in the case of mass dispersion.It is shown that an approach based on the theory of Markov processes can also be used for the description of mass-based statistical mechanics. The conditions necessary for the maintenance of canonical invariance are indicated. Applications of the above theory to hydrological problems are indicated.