Fourier's Law: a Challenge for Theorists

A linear irreversible thermodynamic framework of heat conduction in rigid conductors is introduced. The deviation from local equilibrium is characterized by a single internal variable and a current intensity factor. A general constitutive evolution equation of the current density of the internal energy is derived by introducing linear relationship between the thermodynamic forces and fluxes. The Fourier, Maxwell-Cattaneo-Vernotte, Guyer-Krumhansl, Jeffreys type and Green-Nagh...

The experimental basis and theoretical background of non-Fourier heat conduction is shortly reviewed from the point of view of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. The performance of different theories is compared in case of heat pulse experiments.

Heat conduction experiments are performed in order to identify effects beyond Fourier. Two experimental setups are discussed. First, a simple experiment by a heterogeneous material is investigated from the point of view of generalized heat conduction, then the classical laser flash method is analysed.

Heat conduction in dielectric crystals originates from the propagation of atomic vibrations, whose microscopic dynamics is well described by the linearized phonon Boltzmann transport equation. Recently, it was shown that thermal conductivity can be resolved exactly and in a closed form as a sum over relaxons, $\mathit{i.e.}$ collective phonon excitations that are the eigenvectors of Boltzmann equation's scattering matrix [Cepellotti and Marzari, PRX $\mathbf{6}$ (2016)]. Rela...

Applying simultaneously the methodology of Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics with Internal Variables (NET-IV) and the framework of General Equation for the Non-Equilibrium Reversible-Irreversible Coupling (GENERIC), we demonstrate that, in heat conduction theories, entropy current multipliers can be interpreted as relaxed state variables. Fourier's law and its various extensions -- the Maxwell-Cattaneo-Vernotte, Guyer-Krumhansl, Jeffreys type, Ginzburg-Landau (Allen-Cahn) type a...

We study the most suitable procedure to measure the effective temperature in off-equilibrium systems. We analyze the stationary current established between an off-equilibrium system and a thermometer and the necessary conditions for that current to vanish. We find that the thermometer must have a short characteristic time-scale compared to the typical decorrelation time of the glassy system to correctly measure the effective temperature. This general conclusion is confirmed a...

For an one-dimensional (1D) momentum conserving system, intensive studies have shown that generally its heat current autocorrelation function (HCAF) tends to decay in a power-law manner and results in the breakdown of the Fourier heat conduction law in the thermodynamic limit. This has been recognized to be a dominant hydrodynamic effect. Here we show that, instead, the kinetic effect can be dominant in some cases and leads to the Fourier law. Usually the HCAF undergoes a fas...

We present the computer simulation results of a chain of hard point particles with alternating masses interacting on its extremes with two thermal baths at different temperatures. We found that the system obeys Fourier's law at the thermodynamic limit. This result is against the actual belief that one dimensional systems with momentum conservative dynamics and nonzero pressure have infinite thermal conductivity. It seems that thermal resistivity occurs in our system due to a ...

A finite Green-Kubo thermal conductivity in a one-dimensional momentum conserving system was reported recently by Garrido et al [Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 86, 5486 (2001)]. We first comment on the apparent contradiction with an earlier result of Prosen and Campbell [Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 84, 2857 (2000)]. We then point out certain inconsistencies in their results and disagreements with our own results.

We provide firm convincing evidence that the energy transport in a one-dimensional gas of elastically colliding free particles of unequal masses is anomalous, i.e. the Fourier Law does not hold. Our conclusions are based on the analysis of the dependence of the heat current on the number of particles, of the internal temperature profile and on the Green-Kubo formalism.