Thermodynamic dual structure of linear-dissipative driven systems.

Area of Science:

• Thermodynamics
• Statistical Mechanics
• Non-equilibrium Systems

Background:

• Traditional assumptions suggest statistical entropy maximization cannot explain emergent order in driven dissipative systems.
• Existing models often require entropy production principles for robustness of order.
• This study challenges these long-held assumptions in non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate that statistical entropy maximization can indeed account for emergent order in driven dissipative systems.
• To explore the role of exact entropy as a function of currents in predicting non-equilibrium phenomena.
• To provide a new thermodynamic framework for understanding order in systems far from equilibrium.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of simple models with driving and linear dissipation.
• Development of a thermodynamic dual structure based on exact entropy.
• Investigation of dynamical ensembles and their entropy functions.

Main Results:

• The exact entropy is shown to be a function of currents, not just equilibrium variables.
• A richer thermodynamic dual structure emerges from this dependence.
• This structure successfully predicts the emergence and robustness of non-equilibrium order.

Conclusions:

• The assumption that statistical entropy maximization fails for driven systems is invalid.
• Principles of entropy production are only necessary when using simplified, coarse-grained entropy.
• The findings have implications for understanding phenomena like thermal ratchets and Onsager cycling.