Articles | Volume 34, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-1145-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-1145-2016
Regular paper
 | 
02 Dec 2016
Regular paper |  | 02 Dec 2016

Modeling anisotropic Maxwell–Jüttner distributions: derivation and properties

George Livadiotis

Abstract. In this paper we develop a model for the anisotropic Maxwell–Jüttner distribution and examine its properties. First, we provide the characteristic conditions that the modeling of consistent and well-defined anisotropic Maxwell–Jüttner distributions needs to fulfill. Then, we examine several models, showing their possible advantages and/or failures in accordance to these conditions. We derive a consistent model, and examine its properties and its connection with thermodynamics. We show that the temperature equals the average of the directional temperature-like components, as it holds for the classical, anisotropic Maxwell distribution. We also derive the internal energy and Boltzmann–Gibbs entropy, where we show that both are maximized for zero anisotropy, that is, the isotropic Maxwell–Jüttner distribution.

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Short summary
The paper develops a consistent model for the anisotropic Maxwell–Jüttner distribution. This is the velocity distribution in a gas of relativistic particles, where the temperature is not equi-distributed in all degrees of freedom. The physical requirements necessary for modeling this distribution are provided. The known models are examined showing that they do not fulfill these requirements, while a new model is constructed and studied that is consistent with all the required conditions.