Thermo-dynamics of stationary systems I—The thermo-element

Abstract

There seems to exist a silent agreement of opinion that the solution of the problem of stationary states will be eventually attained by general statistical considerations most probably based on quantum mechanics, and, furthermore, that any important result which can be attained by strictly thermo-dynamical argument has apparently been attained by the classical theories dealing with the respective cases, e.g. , by Lord Kelvin for the thermo-element and by Nernst for the diffusion element. This opinion is endorsed by the fact that all improvements on the two mentioned theories since their announcement concern minor points only.