The theory of gases in nonstationary states, given by Lorentz and Enskog, is generalized for the quantum statistics to give the hydrodynamical equations and the distribution function in first and second approximation, and formal expressions for the viscosity and heat conductivity coefficients. These results are valid for all statistics and for all degrees of degeneration. Two essential points contribute to this generality: (a) Exact expressions independent of statistics and degeneration can be given for the coordinate and time derivatives of the coefficient
A of the equilibrium distribution function in terms of the pressure and temperature gradients and time derivatives, though a closed expression for this coefficient as a function of
v and
T is known only in limiting cases; (b) The function
W of the general equation of state for ideal gases in all statistics
pv=(MRT)W(v32T) is adiabatically invariant. Numerical values of the viscosity and heat conductivity coefficients, which should come out of the formal theory on the introduction of special assumptions about the molecular forces, have not yet been obtained. It is our hope that these results, when found, may furnish an experimental test of the existence of Einstein-Bose statistics in real gases, as is required by theory.
For an ideal statistical gas, where
PV=sE, all thermodynamic functions can be derived from
G(V,T), i.e.,
A(V,T) is given by a suitable integration over
G(V,T). Since $G={N}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}$, the normalization constant, $\ensuremath{\mu}(V,T)$, of the distribution function is sufficient to provide a complete thermodynamic description of such a system. With the aid of the $\ensuremath{\aleph}$-theorem it is shown that there is a sharp physical distinction between the degenerate and non-degenerate Bose-Einstein gases; to any given density there corresponds a transition temperature between them. The method developed is applied to the general (relativistic and non-relativistic) non-degenerate quantum and degenerate Fermi-Dirac gases.