Generalized Second Law of Thermodynamics in Parabolic LTB Inhomogeneous Cosmology

We study thermodynamics of the parabolic Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) cosmology supported by a perfect fluid source. This model is the natural generalization of the flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) universe, and describes an inhomogeneous universe with spherical symmetry. After reviewing some basic equations in the parabolic LTB cosmology, we obtain a relation for the deceleration parameter in this model. We also obtain a condition for which the universe undergoes an accelerating phase at the present time. We use the first law of thermodynamics on the apparent horizon together with the Einstein field equations to get a relation for the apparent horizon entropy in LTB cosmology. We find out that in LTB model of cosmology, the apparent horizon's entropy could be feeded by a term, which incorporates the effects of the inhomogeneity. We consider this result and get a relation for the total entropy evolution, which is used to examine the generalized second law of thermodynamics for an accelerating universe. We also verify the validity of the second law and the generalized second law of thermodynamics for a universe filled with some kinds of matters bounded by the event horizon in the framework of the parabolic LTB model.     

The Second Law of Thermodynamics in a Quantum Heat Engine Model

The second law of thermodynamics has been proven by many facts in classical world. Is there any new property of it in quantum world? In this paper, we calculate the change of entropy in T.D. Kieu's model for quantum heat engine (QHE) and prove the broad validity of the second law of thermodynamics. It is shown that the entropy of the quantum heat engine neither decreases in a whole cycle, nor decreases in either stage of the cycle. The second law of thermodynamics still holds in this QHE model. Moreover, although the modified quantum heat engine is capable of extracting more work, its efficiency does not improve at all. It is neither beyond the efficiency of T.D. Kieu's initial model, nor greater than the reversible Carnot efficiency.     

Quantum Thermodynamics – H-Theorem and the Second Law

The second law has been demonstrated in quantum thermodynamics. The behavior of entropy is discussed.     

The Second Law of Thermodynamics: Foundations and Status

Over the last 10–15 years the second law of thermodynamics has undergone unprecedented scrutiny, particularly with respect to its universal status. This brief article introduces the proceedings of a recent symposium devoted to this topic, The second law of thermodynamics: Foundations and Status, held at University of San Diego as part of the 87th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Division of the AAAS (June 19–22, 2006). The papers are introduced under three themes: ideal gases, quantum perspectives, and interpretation. Roughly half the papers support traditional interpretations of the second law while the rest challenge it. Symposium proceedings from 87th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Division of the AAAS; University of San Diego, June 19–22, 2006; D.P. Sheehan, editor.     

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics and the transport phenomena in magnetically confined plasmas

The neoclassical theory of transport in magnetically confined plasmas is reviewed. The emphasis is laid on a set of relationships existing among the banana transport coefficients. The surface-averaged entropy production in such plasmas is evaluated. It is shown that neoclassical effects emerge from the entropy production due to parallel transport processes. The Pfirsch-Schlüter effect can be clearly interpreted as due to spatial fluctuations of parallel fluxes on a magnetic surface: the corresponding entropy production is the measure of these fluctuations. The banana fluxes can be formulated in a quasithermodynamic form in which the average entropy production is a bilinear form in the parallel fluxes and the conjugate generalized stresses. A formulation as a quadratic form in the thermodynamic forces is also possible, but leads to anomalies, which are discussed in some detail.     

Thermodynamics of the General Diffusion Process: Time-Reversibility and Entropy Production

We introduce an axiomatic thermodynamic theory for the general diffusion process and prove a theorem concerning entropy and irreversibility: the equivalence among time-reversibility, zero entropy production, symmetricity of the stationary diffusion process, and a potential condition.     

Second Law of Thermodynamics for Macroscopic Mechanics Coupled to Thermodynamic Degrees of Freedom

Starting from and only using classical Hamiltonian dynamics, we prove the maximum work principle in a system where macroscopic dynamical degrees of freedom are intrinsically coupled to microscopic degrees of freedom. Unlike in many of the standard and recent works on the second law, the macroscopic dynamics is not governed by an external action but undergoes the back reaction of the microscopic degrees of freedom. Our theorems cover such physical situations as impact between macroscopic bodies, thermodynamic machines, and molecular motors. Our work identifies and quantifies the physical limitations on the applicability of the second law for small systems.      

A Boltzmann Equation Approach to the Dynamics of the Simple Piston

The evolution of a simple piston under a constant external force is investigated from a microscopic approach. Using Boltzmann's equation and simplifying assumptions it is shown that the system evolves towards equilibrium according to the macroscopic laws of thermodynamics: entropy production is positive and Onsager's relations are verified near equilibrium. Numerical simulations are presented which show that the evolution takes place in two stages: first a deterministic approach to the equilibrium position and then a stochastic motion around the equilibrium position. It also shows that the damping is not correctly described with these simplifying assumptions and a quantitative explanation of this effect remains an open problem.     

Thermodynamics of natural selection

It is shown that biological-natural-selection-like behavior can occur, as a general type of time evolution, in a statistical system where detailed balance is violated owing to the presence of metastable energy states. A model of a non-equilibrium phase transition corresponding to the spontaneous origin of self-reproduction in the system is suggested. After a phase transition, the system passes from one quasistationary distribution of self-reproducing subsystems to another, with an increase in the total organization, as long as the growth of the energy flow through the system or a reduction of energy dissipation in the system is possible. The entropy production is calculated for this process in terms of selective values of Eigen's theory for self-organization in autocatalytic systems. Correspondence of the extremal principle of Eigen's theory with the criterion of evolution in Prigogine's thermodynamics is established.     

Generalization of the Gibbsian relation for dilute systems

The Gibbsian relation is of fundamental importance to the thermodynamics of nonequilibrium systems. In this paper, we shall present an analytical derivation and several generalizations of this relation for dilute, nonequilibrium and certain highly nonequilibrium, systems. Our analysis will beindependent of the collision dynamics, because it will be based on the general kinetic equation witharbitrary collision integrals. Consequently, our analysis can provide athermodynamic derivation and several generalizations of the Gibbsian relation. Our distribution functions can also admit some arbitrary, nonequilibrium and highly nonequilibrium, forms. With the help of the generalized Gibbsian relation and a fundamental axiom to be postulated, the entropy production rates and the generalized forces and fluxes will be studied for our highly nonequilibrium systems. The second law of thermodynamics will be postulated and verified in specific cases. Onsager's reciprocity relations will be discussed.     

Verification of Information Thermodynamics in a Trapped Ion System

Information thermodynamics has developed rapidly over past years, and the trapped ions, as a controllable quantum system, have demonstrated feasibility to experimentally verify the theoretical predictions in the information thermodynamics. Here, we address some representative theories of information thermodynamics, such as the quantum Landauer principle, information equality based on the two-point measurement, information-theoretical bound of irreversibility, and speed limit restrained by the entropy production of system, and review their experimental demonstration in the trapped ion system. In these schemes, the typical physical processes, such as the entropy flow, energy transfer, and information flow, build the connection between thermodynamic processes and information variation. We then elucidate the concrete quantum control strategies to simulate these processes by using quantum operators and the decay paths in the trapped-ion system. Based on them, some significantly dynamical processes in the trapped ion system to realize the newly proposed information-thermodynamic models is reviewed. Although only some latest experimental results of information thermodynamics with a single trapped-ion quantum system are reviewed here, we expect to find more exploration in the future with more ions involved in the experimental systems.     

On the entropy of nonequilibrium states

A definition originally proposed by H. S. Green is used to calculate the entropy of nonequilibrium steady states. This definition provides a well-defined coarse graining of the entropy. Although the dimension of the phase space accessible to nonequilibrium steady states is less than the ostensible dimension of that space, the Green entropy is computed from within the accessible phase space, thereby avoiding the divergences inherent in the fine-grained entropy. It is shown that the Green entropy is a maximum at equilibrium and that away from equilibrium, the thermodynamic temperature computed from the Green entropy is different from the kinetic temperature.     

The Concavity of Entropy and Extremum Principles in Thermodynamics

We revisit the concavity property of the thermodynamic entropy in order to formulate a general proof of the minimum energy principle as well as of other equivalent extremum principles that are valid for thermodynamic potentials and corresponding Massieu functions under different constraints. The current derivation aims at providing a coherent formal framework for such principles which may be also pedagogically useful as it fully exploits and highlights the equivalence between different schemes. We also elucidate the consequences of the extremum principles for the general shape of thermodynamic potentials in relation to first-order phase transitions.     

热动力学问题的数值计算

 对含热传导的流体动力学方程组，用有限元方法进行数值求解。采用傅里叶热传导计算热流、用热流连续条件计算单元间接触面的温度、用三角形传热法计算体单元表面的热流，考虑各向同性弹塑性流体材料模型、三项式物态方程和导热系数与状态的相关性，给出了傅里叶热传导、接触传热、热应力应变效应、以及混合物冲击压缩特性等算例。对混合物冲击温度的数值模拟表明，小颗粒混合物在冲击压缩过程中，颗粒间的温度有差别、稍有波动，并随时间趋向于一致，以至热平衡。     

Thermodynamics based on the principle of least abbreviated action: Entropy production in a network of coupled oscillators

We present some novel thermodynamic ideas based on the Maupertuis principle. By considering Hamiltonians written in terms of appropriate action-angle variables we show that thermal states can be characterized by the action variables and by their evolution in time when the system is nonintegrable. We propose dynamical definitions for the equilibrium temperature and entropy as well as an expression for the nonequilibrium entropy valid for isolated systems with many degrees of freedom. This entropy is shown to increase in the relaxation to equilibrium of macroscopic systems with short-range interactions, which constitutes a dynamical justification of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Several examples are worked out to show that this formalism yields the right microcanonical (equilibrium) quantities. The relevance of this approach to nonequilibrium situations is illustrated with an application to a network of coupled oscillators (Kuramoto model). We provide an expression for the entropy production in this system finding that its positive value is directly related to dissipation at the steady state in attaining order through synchronization.     

Entropy Bound Derived from the New Thermodynamics on Holographic Screen

We introduce a new interpretation of chemical potential and show that holographic entropy is entropy bound, which is supported by two ideal cases discussed in detail. One is sparse but incompressible liquid like a star of uniform density and the other is a screen at infinity in spherically symmetric spacetime. Our work is based on the new scenario of entropy force and holographic thermodynamics, and the Brown-York quasi-local energy.     

On the entropy production for the Davies model of heat conduction

The formula for the entropy production in open quantum systems is examined for the Davies model of heat conduction.This work is supported by Polish Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology, project MRI 7.