scholarly journals The second law as a selection principle: The microscopic theory of dissipative processes in quantum systems

1983 ◽  
Vol 80 (14) ◽  
pp. 4590-4594 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Prigogine ◽  
C. George
Keyword(s):  
Microscopic Theory ◽  
Quantum Systems ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Selection Principle ◽  
Dissipative Processes

scholarly journals Entropy Balance in the Expanding Universe: A Novel Perspective

Entropy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 406
Author(s):  
Arturo Tozzi ◽  
James F. Peters
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Quantum Systems ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Quantum Vacuum ◽  
Expanding Universe ◽  
Cosmic Expansion ◽  
Thermodynamic Entropy ◽  
Local Observer ◽  
Relational Mechanism

We describe cosmic expansion as correlated with the standpoints of local observers’ co-moving horizons. In keeping with relational quantum mechanics, which claims that quantum systems are only meaningful in the context of measurements, we suggest that information gets ergodically “diluted” in our isotropic and homogeneous expanding Universe, so that an observer detects just a limited amount of the total cosmic bits. The reduced bit perception is due the decreased density of information inside the expanding cosmic volume in which the observer resides. Further, we show that the second law of thermodynamics can be correlated with cosmic expansion through a relational mechanism, because the decrease in information detected by a local observer in an expanding Universe is concomitant with an increase in perceived cosmic thermodynamic entropy, via the Bekenstein bound and the Laudauer principle. Reversing the classical scheme from thermodynamic entropy to information, we suggest that the cosmological constant of the quantum vacuum, which is believed to provoke the current cosmic expansion, could be one of the sources of the perceived increases in thermodynamic entropy. We conclude that entropies, including the entangled entropy of the recently developed framework of quantum computational spacetime, might not describe independent properties, but rather relations among systems and observers.

scholarly journals Phase space theory for open quantum systems with local and collective dissipative processes

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 035303
Author(s):  
Konrad Merkel ◽  
Valentin Link ◽  
Kimmo Luoma ◽  
Walter T Strunz
Keyword(s):  
Phase Space ◽  
Open Quantum Systems ◽  
Quantum Systems ◽  
Space Theory ◽  
Open Quantum ◽  
Dissipative Processes ◽  
Phase Space Theory

scholarly journals Variational principles and nonequilibrium thermodynamics

2020 ◽  
Vol 378 (2170) ◽  
pp. 20190178 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Ván ◽  
R. Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Symplectic Structure ◽  
Evolution Equations ◽  
Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics ◽  
Variational Principles ◽  
Dissipative Systems ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Dissipative Processes ◽  
Variational Techniques ◽  
Lagrange Form

Variational principles play a fundamental role in deriving the evolution equations of physics. They work well in the case of non-dissipative evolution, but for dissipative systems, the variational principles are not unique and not constructive. With the methods of modern nonequilibrium thermodynamics, one can derive evolution equations for dissipative phenomena and, surprisingly, in several cases, one can also reproduce the Euler–Lagrange form and symplectic structure of the evolution equations for non-dissipative processes. In this work, we examine some demonstrative examples and compare thermodynamic and variational techniques. Then, we argue that, instead of searching for variational principles for dissipative systems, there is another viable programme: the second law alone can be an effective tool to construct evolution equations for both dissipative and non-dissipative processes. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Fundamental aspects of nonequilibrium thermodynamics’.

scholarly journals The tight Second Law inequality for coherent quantum systems and finite-size heat baths

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Łobejko
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Gaussian Model ◽  
Finite Size ◽  
Heat Bath ◽  
Energy Difference ◽  
Quantum Systems ◽  
Passive State ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Free Energy Difference ◽  
Classical Thermodynamics

AbstractIn classical thermodynamics, the optimal work is given by the free energy difference, what according to the result of Skrzypczyk et al. can be generalized for individual quantum systems. The saturation of this bound, however, requires an infinite bath and ideal energy storage that is able to extract work from coherences. Here we present the tight Second Law inequality, defined in terms of the ergotropy (rather than free energy), that incorporates both of those important microscopic effects – the locked energy in coherences and the locked energy due to the finite-size bath. The former is solely quantified by the so-called control-marginal state, whereas the latter is given by the free energy difference between the global passive state and the equilibrium state. Furthermore, we discuss the thermodynamic limit where the finite-size bath correction vanishes, and the locked energy in coherences takes the form of the entropy difference. We supplement our results by numerical simulations for the heat bath given by the collection of qubits and the Gaussian model of the work reservoir.

Modelling ‘Life’ against ‘heat death’

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-69
Author(s):  
Michail Zak
Keyword(s):  
Dynamical Systems ◽  
Liouville Equation ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Quantum Systems ◽  
Living Systems ◽  
Second Law ◽  
New Class ◽  
Heat Death ◽  
The Universe

AbstractThis work is inspired by the discovery of a new class of dynamical system described by ordinary differential equations coupled with their Liouville equation. These systems called self-controlled since the role of actuators is played by the probability produced by the Liouville equation. Following the Madelung equation that belongs to this class, non-Newtonian properties such as randomness, entanglement and probability interference typical for quantum systems have been described. Special attention was paid to the capability to violate the second law of thermodynamics, which makes these systems neither Newtonian, nor quantum. It has been shown that self-controlled dynamical systems can be linked to mathematical models of living systems. The discovery of isolated dynamical systems that can decrease entropy in violation of the second law of thermodynamics, and resemblances of these systems to livings suggests that ‘Life’ can slow down the ‘heat death’ of the Universe and that can be associated with the Purpose of Life.

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