Eigenvolume

Radiopaque markers implanted in the left ventricle allow one to follow the motion of specific elements of myocardium and compute a measure of relative left ventricular volume, called eigenvolume.

Real gas particles have a finite size. When packed as densely as possible they occupy the so-called eigenvolume. The steep rise in pressure shown by the ideal gas equation as V -> 0 must occur in reality when the gas is compressed to its eigenvolume.

However, when we apply the eigenvolume corrections with the mass-proportional eigenvolume v#95;i#92;simm#95;i, fixed to the realistic proton hard-core radius r#95;p#92;simeq 0.4-0.5 fm, we observe a second minimum in the temperature dependence of the #92;chi², located at the significantly higher temperatures.