Fluctuation corrections to thermodynamic functions: finite-size effects

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2013 Apr;87(4):042112. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.87.042112. Epub 2013 Apr 15.

Abstract

The explicit thermodynamic functions, in particular, the specific heat of a spin system interacting with a spin bath which exerts finite dissipation on the system are determined. We show that the specific heat is a sum of the products of a thermal equilibration factor that carries the temperature dependence and a dynamical correction factor, characteristic of the dissipative energy flow under steady state from the system. The variation of specific heat with temperature is accompanied by an abrupt transition that depends on these dynamical factors characteristic of the finite system size.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't