The thermohydrodynamical picture of Brownian motion via a generalized Smoluchowsky equation

Abstract

Via an operator continued fraction scheme, we expand Kramers equation in the high friction limit. Then all distribution moments are expressed in terms of the first momemt (particle density). The latter satisfies a generalized Smoluchowsky equation. As an application, we present the nonequilibrium thermodynamics and hydrodynamical picture for the one-dimensional Brownian motion. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.