Thermodynamics of Deformable Dielectrics with a Non-Euclidean Structure as Internal Variable

Abstract

In this paper we apply the geometrical theory of thermodynamics with vectorial and tensorial internal variables to a model of deformable dielectrics (which include ferro-electric crystals) due to Maugin. We explicitly consider an internal (non-Euclidean) metric as a thermodynamical non-equilibrium variable, together with polarization and temperature gradients. With the aid of Clausius-Duhem inequality we obtain the extra entropy flux and the relevant thermodynamical restrictions on entropy and free energy.