The well-known Darken equation has been widely accepted in analyzing interdiffusion problems since 1948. The diffusion researchers have never conceived a doubt about the validity of Darken equation for such a long time. However, it is revealed that the Darken equation is inconsistent with the fundamental theory in mathematics. At the same time, it is clarified that the well-known intrinsic diffusion concept is an illusion. The present brief report will have a great influence on matters of the research and education relevant to diffusion problems not only in future but also in past, since the accumulated diffusivity data analyzed by the invalid Darken theory and the misjudged descriptions in existing text books should be revised or deleted as soon as possible.
Darken Equation; Kirkendall Effect; Intrinsic Diffusion; Fickian First Law1. Introduction
The Fickian first law and second law have been accepted as an independent one respectively since 1855 [1]. They have been thus widely applied to various diffusion problems. The Fickian second law is obtained by applying the Fickian first law to the well-known divergence theorem. The Fickian second law is also obtained from the provability of differential equation [2]. In mathematics, the Fickian first law is obtained by integrating the Fickian second law with respect to nabla operator [3]. Therefore, it is considered that the Fickian law is only one, i.e., the Fickian second law.
In the previous work, it was revealed that the Fikian first law is incomplete without an initial value for the Fickian second law [3]. At the same time, this indirectly means that the Darken equation is mathematically incorrect [4]. Nevertheless, a lot of interdiffusion researchers still believe that the Darken equation is valid. In the present work, therefore, we directly reveal that the Darken equation is mathematically and physically invalid.
The concentration profile depends on the diffusivity in the diffusion equation. The diffusivity is defined as an interaction between a single diffusion particle and the diffusion field around it. Therefore, the diffusivity should be originally discussed by using the well-known Schrödinger equation [5]. Based on the physical theory, the interaction does not depend on the motion of diffusion system. Thus, this indicates that there is no such an intrinsic diffusion coefficient.
The misjudged theory of Darken equation is caused by considering a partial differential equation as an ordinary differential equation [4]. It is revealed that the Darken equation is thus mathematically invalid and also the intrinsic diffusion concept is an illusion in contradiction to the fundamental principle in physics.
The well-known Kirkendall effect shows the following [6].
1) The diffusion mechanism of the metal atoms in metal crystal is the vacancy one.
2) The Kirkendall effect occurs in accordance with the parabolic law.
In the previous study, we can reasonably explain it using the new diffusion flux regardless of the intrinsic diffusion concept [3].
The Darken theory attendant on the Kirkendall effect and the Fickian first law appear in almost existing text books. A lot of previous diffusivity data analyzed by the invalid Darken equation have been accumulated since 1948. Further, the researchers still perform the study relevant to interdiffusion problems and also the student education is performed in accordance with the misjudged descriptions in existing text books. Therefore, the present brief report will have a great influence on their matters not only in future but also in past. The accumulated diffusivity data should be thus reexamined by using the new analytical method. The misjudged descriptions in existing text books should be also revised in accordance with the present theory. Therefore, we believe that it is extremely dominant to make the new theory universally known as soon as possible in this field.
2. Misjudgment of Darken Theory
In the previous works, the interdiffusion problems were reasonably solved regardless of the intrinsic diffusion concept [7,8]. This indicates that the intrinsic diffusion concept is needless in the analysis of interdiffusion problems. In the following, we reveal that the well-known Darken equation is incorrect in mathematics.
The diffusion equation of concentration C(t, x) in the moving coordinate system (t, x) yielding
is transformed into one of the fixed coordinate system in the following, where the diffusion time is t = τ in the usual procedure. As usually accepted in this field, Figure 1 shows that the cross section S of a diffusion couple of binary system, which is composed of the diffusion particles I and II, is approximately a constant value. In other words, this means
where and are the normalized concentrations of diffusion particles I and II, respectively. We set the initial state so the origin of coordinate system corresponds to that of.
If the velocity of is against , the relation of
is valid. Therefore, the relations between the differential operators of
are valid. Using (4) for (1), the diffusion equations of diffusion particles I and II in the fixed coordinate system are given as:
where, , and
. From the divergence theorem, (5) shows that the diffusion fluxes in the fixed coordinate system are expressed as;
Here, (2), (5) and (6) yield the relation of
In accordance with the mathematical theory of a partial differential equation, (7) shows that does not depend on. Using a function of, i.e., , the relation of
is thus mathematically valid. In other words, when the diffusion system moves, (8) indicates that the Fickian first law is not valid in the fixed coordinate system because of in the general case [3]. The new diffusion flux JR = J + J0(t) defined by the previous work corresponds to, as given by
.
Here after, we discuss independent of. Using (2), (6) and (7) for (8), the identical equation with respect to yielding
is obtained. Since it is clear that depends on the space coordinate and that is independent of, it is necessary that the relation of
is valid. Equation (10) is consistent with the physical principle which the physical relation does not depend on the given coordinate system. It is a common sense in physics that is valid in the present case, if is valid in the moving coordinate system. The interdiffusion coefficient is thus defined as
in the fixed coordinate system.
Here, the Darken theory is discussed as follows. Substituting (6) into (7) yields
In contradiction to the mathematical theory of a partial differential equation, Darken solved (12) as an ordinary differential equation with respect to. In other words, using k as an integral constant value in stead of the above, he thought that the relation of
is valid, although it is contradictory to the mathematical theory. Using the initial condition of k = 0 and (2), (12) is rewritten as
Here, (13) is an identical equation which the left-hand side does not depend on and the right-hand side depends on. Therefore, using (2) for (13), the relation of
is obtained. It is apparent that (14) is identically valid only under the condition of. Thus, Darken again failed to notice the misunderstanding of fundamental theory in mathematics.
In any case, if we substitute (13) into in (6), the relation of
is obtained. From comparing (15) with the Fickian first law of, the so-called Darken equation of
is perfunctorily derived.
Darken failed to notice that (13) corresponds to the identical (14). He thus misunderstood and in (15) in the analytical process as if they are independent each other, although it is invalid. In any case, the and in (15) are symbolically rewritten as and in (16) in order to distinguish from ones of (10). Further, and were defined as the intrinsic diffusion coefficients then.
Hereinbefore, the Darken theory is apparently inconsistent with the mathematical theory. Equation (16) is thus entirely meaningless and at the same time the concept of intrinsic diffusion is an illusion.
3. Conclusions
The present brief report reveals that the Darken equation is apparently incorrect and the concept of intrinsic diffusion is meaningless. Nevertheless, the Darken theory has been widely applied to the interdiffusion problems for such a long time since 1948. The main reasons are as follows.
The derivation process of (16) shows that and, i.e., and are independent of each other, although it is essentially incorrect. Researchers relevant to the interdiffusion problems have failed to notice the misjudgment of Darken equation (16). Based on the intrinsic diffusion concept, the Darken theory has been applied to the relation of
in order to understand the well-known Kirkendall effect. It has been thus considered that the Kikendall effect is caused by the relation of
for. However, this is a misjudged theory as can be seen from (11). Therefore, we cannot understand the Kirkendall effect by using the Darken theory. On the other hand, it is revealed that the Kirkendall effect is reasonably understood by using the new diffusion flux [3].
The concentration profile can be investigated by the experimental procedure, but the diffusivity profile cannot be experimentally obtained. The validity of diffusivity profile has been neglected by the reason why there is no experimental method to confirm it. It is revealed that the diffusivity profile must have an inflection point with respect to in accordance with the mathematical theory [7]. On the contrary, some of their profiles obtained previously do not have it because of the mathematically incorrect analysis.
In any case, the interdiffusion problems have been numerically investigated after the Darken theory, using and in (16) for the simulation as parameters. As a matter of course, the arbitrary concentration profile is perfunctorily reproducible then. However, those investigations are entirely meaningless in accordance with the above theory. It will be thus necessary to reexamine the validity of previous diffusivity data in accordance with the new diffusion theory [3,5,7,8].
As a result, the misjudged Darken equation is caused by the incompleteness of the Fickian first law [3]. If we consider that a lot of diffusion researchers still perform the study for interdiffusion problems and also educate their students about diffusion theory, using the Fickian first law and/or the Darken equation, we strongly propose to make the new diffusion theory universally known as soon as possible for young researchers.
It is an extremely seldom example in science technology history that the misjudged theory has been accepted for such a long time, i.e., the Fickian first law since 1855 and the Darken theory since 1948. Researchers should deeply accept these events as a precept of the method and attitude of study. Hereafter, the terminologies of the Darken equation, the intrinsic diffusion and/or the Fickian first law will gradually disappear in the diffusion field.
REFERENCESReferencesA. Fick, Philosophical Magazine Journal of Science, Vol. 10, 1855, pp. 31-39.A. Einstein, Annalen der Physik, Vol. 18, 1905, pp. 549-560. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/andp.19053220806T. Okino, Journal of Modern Physics, Vol. 3, 2012, pp. 1388-1393. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jmp.2012.310175L. S. Darken, Transactions of AIME, Vol. 175, 1948, pp. 184-201.T. Okino, Journal of Modern Physics, Vol. 4, 2013, pp. 612-615. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jmp.2013.45088A. D. Smigelskas and E. O. Kirkendall, Transactions of AIME, Vol. 171, 1947, pp. 130-142.T. Okino, Materials Transactions, Vol. 52, 2011, pp. 2220-2227. http://dx.doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.M2011137T. Okino, Journal of Modern Physics, Vol. 3, 2012, pp. 255-259. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jmp.2012.33034
[
in the following, where the diffusion time is t = τ in the usual procedure. As usually accepted in this field, 
and 
are the normalized concentrations of diffusion particles I and II, respectively. We set the initial state so the origin of coordinate system 
corresponds to that of
.
is 
against 
, the relation of
, 
, 
and
. From the divergence theorem, (5) shows that the diffusion fluxes in the fixed coordinate system are expressed as;
does not depend on
. Using a function of
, i.e., 
, the relation of
in the general case [
, as given by
.
independent of
. Using (2), (6) and (7) for (8), the identical equation with respect to 
yielding
depends on the space coordinate 
and that 
is independent of
, it is necessary that the relation of
is valid in the present case, if 
is valid in the moving coordinate system. The interdiffusion coefficient is thus defined as
. In other words, using k as an integral constant value in stead of the above
, he thought that the relation of
and the right-hand side depends on
. Therefore, using (2) for (13), the relation of
. Thus, Darken again failed to notice the misunderstanding of fundamental theory in mathematics.
in (6), the relation of
, the so-called Darken equation of
and 
in (15) in the analytical process as if they are independent each other, although it is invalid. In any case, the 
and 
in (15) are symbolically rewritten as 
and 
in (16) in order to distinguish from ones of (10). Further, 
and 
were defined as the intrinsic diffusion coefficients then.
and
, i.e., 
and 
are independent of each other, although it is essentially incorrect. Researchers relevant to the interdiffusion problems have failed to notice the misjudgment of Darken equation (16). Based on the intrinsic diffusion concept, the Darken theory has been applied to the relation of
. However, this is a misjudged theory as can be seen from (11). Therefore, we cannot understand the Kirkendall effect by using the Darken theory. On the other hand, it is revealed that the Kirkendall effect is reasonably understood by using the new diffusion flux [
in accordance with the mathematical theory [
and 
in (16) for the simulation as parameters. As a matter of course, the arbitrary concentration profile is perfunctorily reproducible then. However, those investigations are entirely meaningless in accordance with the above theory. It will be thus necessary to reexamine the validity of previous diffusivity data in accordance with the new diffusion theory [3,5,7,8].