REMARKS ON THE INFORMATION ENTROPY MAXIMIZATION METHOD AND EXTENDED THERMODYNAMICS

The information entropy maximization method was applied by Jou er al. [J. Phys. A 17, 2799 (1984)] to heat conduction in the past. Advancing this method one more step, Nettleton [J. Chem. Phys. 106, 10311 (1997 )] combined the method with a projection operator technique to derive a set of evolution equations for macroscopic variables from the Liouvi lle equation for a simple liquid, and a claim was made that the method provides a statistical mechanical theory basis of irreversible proces ses and, in particular, of extended thermodynamics which is consistent with the laws of thermodynamics. This line of information entropy max imization method is analyzed from the viewpoint of the laws of thermod ynamics in this paper. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.