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Time, Irreversibility and Entropy Production in Nonequilibrium Systems
Umberto Lucia1, Giulia Grisolia1, Alexander L Kuzemsky2
1Dipartimento Energia "Galileo Ferraris", Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 8, 2020
Summary
This review explores time and irreversibility in thermodynamics, linking macroscopic and microscopic views. It highlights entropy generation as key to irreversible behavior in out-of-equilibrium systems.
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Statistical Mechanics
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Standard thermodynamic concepts are briefly summarized.
- Fundamental aspects of temporal evolution in out-of-equilibrium systems are considered.
- The role of entropy generation in irreversible processes is central.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the concepts of time and irreversibility.
- To connect macroscopic and microscopic approaches to thermodynamic problems.
- To explore the thermalization of thermal radiation and its interaction with matter.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on thermodynamics and time.
- Analysis of entropy generation as an indicator of irreversibility.
- Exploration of thermal radiation and matter interactions from complementary viewpoints.
Main Results:
- Entropy generation is identified as a key characteristic of irreversible behavior.
- The concept of time is examined from various perspectives to clarify its role in physical processes.
- The thermalization of thermal radiation is discussed in relation to time and irreversibility.
Conclusions:
- A clearer understanding of time and irreversibility is achieved by linking macroscopic and microscopic viewpoints.
- Entropy generation is crucial for understanding irreversible thermodynamic processes.
- The interplay between thermal radiation, matter, and time is essential for irreversible thermophysics.
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