Non-Equilibrium Entropy and Irreversibility (Mathematical Physics Studies, 5). Questo articolo non è disponibile.Non-Equilibrium Entropy and Irreversibility (Mathematical Physics Studies, 5)

The problem of deriving irreversible thermodynamics from the re­ versible microscopic dynamics has been on the agenda of theoreti­ cal physics for a century and has produced more papers than can be digested by any single scientist. Why add to this too long list with yet another work? The goal is definitely not to give a gen­ eral review of previous work in this field. My ambition is rather to present an approach differing in some key aspects from the stan­ dard treatments, and to develop it as far as possible using rather simple mathematical tools (mainly inequalities of various kinds). However, in the course of this work I have used a large number of results and ideas from the existing literature, and the reference list contains contributions from many different lines of research. As a consequence the reader may find the arguments a bit difficult to follow without some previous exposure to this set of problems.

1. Introduction and Summary.- 2. Dynamics and Work.- 3. Information Entropy.- 3.a Entropy and relative entropy.- 3.b Gibbs states.- 3.c Entropy-increasing processes.- 4. Heat Baths.- 5. Reversible Processes.- 6. Closed Finite Systems.- 6.a Available work.- 6.b Recurrences.- 6.c Entropy functions.- 7. Open Systems.- 7.a Markov description.- 7.b Available work and entropy.- 7.c Master equation models.- 8. External Perturbations.- 8.a Models of the perturbations.- 8.b Classical systems.- 8.c Quantum systems.- 8.d Effects on the entropy functions.- 9. Thermodynamic Limit.- 10. Thermodynamic Entropy.- 10.a Thermodynamic processes and entropy.- 10.b Properties of the entropy functions.- 10.c Irreversibility and approach to equilibrium.- 11. Measurements, Entropy and Work.- 11.a Observations on the system.- 11.b Information and entropy.- 11.c Exchange of work and heat.- 12. Other Approaches.- Appendix A. Quantum Markov Processes.- A.1 Reduced dynamics.- A.2 Markov processes.- A.3 Non-passivity of Markov processes.- A.4 Non-KMS property of Markov processes.- A.5 Quantum thermal fluctuations.- Appendix B. Sensitivity of Hyperbolic Motion.- References.- Notation Index.