4 papers
Nanothermodynamics: stable thermal equilibrium and nanoscale fluctuations
Ralph V. Chamberlin
Nanothermodynamics describes the process where large systems subdivide into equilibrium distributions of small subsystems. A key ingredient is Hill's subdivision potential (E) that…
Excess energy fluctuations with applications to deviations from Debye's specific heat
Ralph V. Chamberlin, Sumiyoshi Abe
Measured specific heats often exceed Debye's T^3-law, even in high-purity single crystals. Analogous excess energy fluctuations are found in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of…
On "Nanoscale thermodynamics needs the concept of a disjoining chemical potential", by W. Dong, Nat. Comm. 10, 1038 (2023)
Ralph V. Chamberlin
In a 2023 Nature Communication, Dong claims that a disjoining chemical potential should be used instead of "Hill's nanothermodynamics" because Hill's subdivision potential "remains…
Small and simple systems that favor the arrow of time
Ralph V. Chamberlin
The 2nd law of thermodynamics yields an irreversible increase in entropy until thermal equilibrium is achieved. This irreversible increase is often assumed to require large and com…