SPEAKER:
Dr. Alexander Shibakov
TITLE:
Classical Thermodynamics without Silly Differentials
Anyone who has ever tried to understand classical (i.e. not involving methods of statistical mechanics) thermodynamics probably wondered at one time or another: can this theory be presented without committing a multitude of mathematical sins such as comparing differentials and using undefined notions such as `irreversible process'? In this talk we will mention two different approaches to put thermodynamics on a firm mathematical foundations: the theory developed by Truesdell and his school and the relatively recent (ca 2000) Lieb-Yngvasson's approach. They are not without flaws which only adds to the mystery.