Statistical mechanical proof of the second law of thermodynamics based on volume entropy

DOI10.1016/J.SHPSB.2007.09.002zbMATH Open1223.82028arXiv0704.2567OpenAlexW3101387043MaRDI QIDQ643149FDOQ643149

Authors: Michele Campisi 

Publication date: 27 October 2011

Published in: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. Part B. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: In a previous work (M. Campisi. Stud. Hist. Phil. M. P. 36 (2005) 275-290) we have addressed the mechanical foundations of equilibrium thermodynamics on the basis of the Generalized Helmholtz Theorem. It was found that the volume entropy provides a good mechanical analogue of thermodynamic entropy because it satisfies the heat theorem and it is an adiabatic invariant. This property explains the ``equal sign in Clausius principle ($S_{f}geq{S}_i$) in a purely mechanical way and suggests that the volume entropy might explain the ``larger than sign (i.e. the Law of Entropy Increase) if non adiabatic transformations were considered. Based on the principles of microscopic (quantum or classical) mechanics here we prove that, provided the initial equilibrium satisfy the natural condition of decreasing ordering of probabilities, the expectation value of the volume entropy cannot decrease for arbitrary transformations performed by some external sources of work on a insulated system. This can be regarded as a rigorous quantum mechanical proof of the Second Law. We discuss how this result relates to the Minimal Work Principle and improves over previous attempts. The natural evolution of entropy is towards larger values because the natural state of matter is at positive temperature. Actually the Law of Entropy Decrease holds in artificially prepared negative temperature systems.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0704.2567

Recommendations

• The second law of thermodynamics as a deterministic theorem for quantum spin systems
• A second look at the second law of thermodynamics
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2183261
• A new statement of the second law of thermodynamics
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1443573

zbMATH Keywords

arrow of timeminus first lawquantum adiabatic theoremHelmholtz theoremminimal worknegative temperature

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Foundations of time-dependent statistical mechanics (82C03)

Cites Work

• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• The origins of time-asymmetry in thermodynamics: the minus first law
• Bluff your way in the second law of thermodynamics
• A mathematical theorem as the basis for the second law: Thomson's formulation applied to equilibrium
• On the mechanical foundations of thermodynamics: the generalized Helmholtz theorem
• Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics at Negative Absolute Temperatures

Cited In (11)

• Out of equilibrium thermodynamics of quantum harmonic chains
• Quantum Hertz entropy increase in a quenched spin chain
• On the mechanical foundations of thermodynamics: the generalized Helmholtz theorem
• Reversible adiabatic and isentropic changes in quantum systems
• Fluctuation, dissipation and the arrow of time
• Entropy and the second law for driven, or quenched, thermally isolated systems
• Increase of quantum volume entropy in presence of degenerate eigenenergies
• Equivalence of the Kelvin-Planck statement of the second law and the principle of entropy increase
• Bejan's thermodynamics for the heat transfer man, and the law of volume increase
• Fluctuation relations and strong inequalities for thermally isolated systems
• The second law of thermodynamics as a deterministic theorem for quantum spin systems

This page was built for publication: Statistical mechanical proof of the second law of thermodynamics based on volume entropy

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q643149)