Transformation properties of the onsager relations

Abstract

The invariance of the Onsager reciprocal relations under simultaneous linear transformations of the fluxes and forces occurring in the expression for the entropy production is investigated for the cases of scalar phenomena and of vectorial phenomena (heat conduction and diffusion).

The connection between these transformations follows in a natural way from the invariance of the deviation of the entropy from its equilibrium value. The latter condition rather than the invariance of the entropy production guarantees the invariance of the Onsager relations.