Nonequilibrium translational effects in evaporation and condensation

Abstract

This paper shows how mesoscopic nonequilibrium thermodynamics can be applied to condensation and evaporation. By extending the normal set of thermodynamic variables with two internal variables, we are able to give a new theoretical foundation for a mechanism of condensation that has been proposed from molecular simulation results. The flux does not follow a simple Arrhenius formula for small activation energies which are relevant here.