Abstract
Following the method of classical mechanics, we calculate the action for Fourier heat conduction from the classical Hamilton-Jacobi equation. We can write a Schrödinger-type equation and we obtain its solution, the kernel by which we may introduce a kind of wave function. Mathematically, we follow Bohm’s method introduced to quantum mechanics. The generalized Hamilton-Jacobi equation—which may be handled as a quantum-thermodynamical form—can be calculated. Irreversibility and dissipation are included in a natural way in the field theory of nonequilibrium thermodynamics, so in this way we obtain a quantum-thermodynamical approach of simple dissipative processes.
- Received 2 September 2003
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.70.016123
©2004 American Physical Society