Linear irreversible processes and spin relaxation

✍ Scribed by R. Lenk

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1976
• Weight: 684 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0001-8716
• DOI: 10.1016/0001-8716(76)80029-6

✦ Synopsis

The standard theories of spin relaxation have not sufficiently emphasised the connection of this phenomenon to other linear irreversible processes and the role of entropy production has also not been clearly discussed.

In order to contribute to this problem, we start here with the linear relation between the generalised fluxes Ji and generalised forces X~ and we show the verification of the bilinear relation in fluxes and forces for the dissipation function 5Ud In this connection a general expression for the diffusion-like equation is also calculated.

Furthermore, the phenomenological relaxation equation is developed, which shows the proportionality of the relaxation rate 1/T 1 to the phenomenological coefficient L E. The quantum-statistical treatment of relaxation starts also from the entropy production principle and one obtains a quantum-statistical alternative of the phenomenological coefficient L E, which yields finally the molecular expression for the relaxation rate 1/T1. This result has been used for the treatment of spin-lattice relaxation by dipole-dipole interaction and one has obtained the same relation for 1/T 1, relaxation rate, as by other methods, using.different starting points.