For a reversible change of a simple compressible system with fixed composition, the first law is
An adiabatic change exchanges no heat. A reversible adiabatic change is isentropic, ; adiabatic alone does not imply constant entropy for an irreversible process.
Define the Helmholtz free energy . Then . Equality of its mixed partial derivatives gives the Maxwell relation
Holding fixed in the first law and using this relation gives
For equilibrium radiation, and , so this identity reads , or . Integrating gives
Finally in a reversible adiabatic expansion, becomes . Dividing gives , hence is constant. This assumes equilibrium radiation throughout the expansion.

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