Entropy and the Time Evolution of Macroscopic Systems (International Series of Monographs on Physics) - Softcover

Grandy Jr., Walter T.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 019965543X ISBN 13: 9780199655434

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2012

Synopsis

This book is based on the premise that the entropy concept, a fundamental element of probability theory as logic, governs all of thermal physics, both equilibrium and nonequilibrium. The variational algorithm of J. Willard Gibbs, dating from the 19th Century and extended considerably over the following 100 years, is shown to be the governing feature over the entire range of thermal phenomena, such that only the nature of the macroscopic constraints changes. Beginning with a short history of the development of the entropy concept by Rudolph Clausius and his predecessors, along with the formalization of classical thermodynamics by Gibbs, the first part of the book describes the quest to uncover the meaning of thermodynamic entropy, which leads to its relationship with probability and information as first envisioned by Ludwig Boltzmann. Recognition of entropy first of all as a fundamental element of probability theory in mid-twentieth Century led to deep insights into both statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, the details of which are presented here in several chapters. The later chapters extend these ideas to nonequilibrium statistical mechanics in an unambiguous manner, thereby exhibiting the overall unifying role of the entropy.

About this title

About the Author

Walter T. Grandy, Jr., Department of Physics, University of Wyoming

Review

"Delightful...a scholarly and refreshing text that explores in detail the subtleties of carrying out a maximum entropy approach to describe irreversible processes."

--Physics Today

"Written in an accessible style, the book makes numerous little-known connections between macroscopic and microscopic expressions for entropy and entropy production...Filled with many examples, Grandys thought-provoking exposition will be of interest for years to come. I would recommend it to
any serious student of statistical physics."

--Physics Today

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 019965543X
• ISBN 13: 9780199655434
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224