Thermostat for a relativistic gas

Molecular dynamics simulations of a three dimensional relativistic gas with a soft potential are conducted with different interactions and particle masses. For all cases the velocity distribution agrees numerically with the Juttner distribution. We show how the relativistic gas can be coupled to a thermostat to simulate the canonical ensemble at a given temperature T. The behaviour of the thermostat is investigated as a function of the thermal inertia and its appropriate range is determined by evaluating the kinetic energy fluctuations. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate a three-dimensional relativistic gas with a soft potential, showing agreement between velocity distribution and Juttner distribution. It was demonstrated that coupling the relativistic gas to a thermostat allows simulation of the canonical ensemble at a given temperature T. The behavior of the thermostat was examined based on thermal inertia, with the appropriate range determined by evaluating kinetic energy fluctuations.