In command of non-equilibrium

Area of Science:

• Thermodynamics
• Non-equilibrium systems
• Biophysics

Background:

• The second law of thermodynamics dictates the direction of spontaneous processes, often termed the arrow of time.
• Kinetic barriers are crucial for maintaining highly ordered, high-energy non-equilibrium states, defying immediate equilibration.
• Living organisms and advanced materials represent such preserved non-equilibrium states.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of kinetic barriers in preserving non-equilibrium states.
• To connect energy dissipation and waste heat to the driving force of non-equilibrium processes.
• To introduce and define the concept of the 'machinery of life' for driven processes.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis drawing parallels between diverse processes.
• Analogy with the Carnot cycle of heat engines.
• Literature review of thermodynamics and non-equilibrium systems (Prigogine's work).

Main Results:

• Non-equilibrium states, including life and materials, are stabilized by kinetic barriers.
• Energy dissipation as waste heat is a fundamental requirement for these states.
• A unifying principle, the 'machinery of life', describes driven processes like photosynthesis and self-assembly.

Conclusions:

• The apparent reversal of the arrow of time in forming ordered states is explained by energy dissipation.
• The 'machinery of life' provides a framework for understanding essential driven processes.
• Understanding waste heat dissipation is key to comprehending the stability of non-equilibrium systems.