A general thermodynamic approach for diffusion on a lattice

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Di Muro, Matías A., Hoyuelos, Miguel
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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author Di Muro, Matías A.
Hoyuelos, Miguel
author_facet Di Muro, Matías A.
Hoyuelos, Miguel
contents This work presents a general thermodynamic approach to describe particle diffusion on a lattice, a model used to study transport processes in solids and on surfaces. By treating each lattice site as an open thermodynamic system, the effects of microscopic particle interactions are represented through the chemical potential. A fundamental relationship between the Onsager matrix ($L$) and its ideal-system counterpart ($L_\text{id}$, where interactions are neglected) using the determinant of the covariance matrix is demonstrated. This framework allows for the calculation of transport coefficients using the combination of their ideal values and thermodynamic properties. The general result is successfully applied to reproduce the Darken equation for substitutional diffusion in solids and to derive the non-diagonal diffusion matrix of the Zhdanov model for surface diffusion of Langmuir particles. In the last case, analytical predictions are further validated through numerical simulations across various interaction potentials.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_02579
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A general thermodynamic approach for diffusion on a lattice
Di Muro, Matías A.
Hoyuelos, Miguel
Statistical Mechanics
This work presents a general thermodynamic approach to describe particle diffusion on a lattice, a model used to study transport processes in solids and on surfaces. By treating each lattice site as an open thermodynamic system, the effects of microscopic particle interactions are represented through the chemical potential. A fundamental relationship between the Onsager matrix ($L$) and its ideal-system counterpart ($L_\text{id}$, where interactions are neglected) using the determinant of the covariance matrix is demonstrated. This framework allows for the calculation of transport coefficients using the combination of their ideal values and thermodynamic properties. The general result is successfully applied to reproduce the Darken equation for substitutional diffusion in solids and to derive the non-diagonal diffusion matrix of the Zhdanov model for surface diffusion of Langmuir particles. In the last case, analytical predictions are further validated through numerical simulations across various interaction potentials.
title A general thermodynamic approach for diffusion on a lattice
topic Statistical Mechanics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.02579