Negative heat capacity and non-extensive kinetic theory

Abstract

The negative nature of the heat capacity $C_V$ of thermodynamically isolated self-gravitating systems is rediscussed in the framework of a non-extensive kinetic theory. It is found that the dependence of $C_V$ on the non-extensive parameter $q$ gives rise to a negative branch with the critical value corresponding to $q = 5/3$ ($C_V\to - \infty$).

7 pages, 1 figure, revised version to appear in Phys. Lett. A