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Small and Simple Systems That Favor the Arrow of Time
1Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504, USA.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2024
Summary
The second law of thermodynamics, an irreversible increase in entropy, can emerge even in small, simple systems. This finding requires intrinsically irreversible microscopic dynamics, challenging assumptions about system complexity.
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Statistical Mechanics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- The second law of thermodynamics dictates an irreversible increase in entropy towards thermal equilibrium.
- This irreversibility is often assumed to necessitate large, complex systems arising from reversible microscopic physics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the irreversible increase in entropy can emerge in small, simple systems.
- To test the assumption that complex systems are required for thermodynamic irreversibility.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing simulations and theoretical analysis of a 1D ring of N Ising spins.
- Coupling the spin system to an explicit heat bath of N Einstein oscillators.
- Calculating exact entropy for spins and heat bath, altering dynamics from reversible to irreversible.
Main Results:
- Observed thermal-equilibrium behavior in the thermodynamic limit.
- Demonstrated thermal-equilibrium behavior in systems as small as N=2.
- Both outcomes were contingent upon intrinsically irreversible microscopic dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Thermodynamic irreversibility and equilibrium can manifest in very small systems.
- The emergence of irreversibility does not inherently require large system sizes or complexity.
- Intrinsically irreversible microscopic dynamics are crucial for observing these phenomena.
Keywords:
2nd law of thermodynamicsCreutz modelEinstein oscillatorsIsing modelarrow of timemaximum entropynon-extensive entropystable nanothermodynamicsthermal equilibriumMore Related Videos
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