Comparative Analysis of Jüttner’s Calculation of the Energy of a Relativistic Ideal Gas and Implications for Accelerator Physics and Cosmology

Abstract

Jüttner used the conventional theory of relativistic statistical mechanics to calculate the energy of a relativistic ideal gas in 1911. An alternative derivation of the energy of a relativistic ideal gas was published by Horwitz, Schieve and Piron in 1981 within the context of parametrized relativistic statistical mechanics. The resulting energy in the ultrarelativistic regime differs from Jüttner’s result. We review the derivations of energy and identify physical regimes for testing the validity of the two theories in accelerator physics and cosmology.

Keywords

• jüttner distribution
• relativistic ideal gas
• cosmology
• accelerator physics