Statistical Mechanics and Entropy
Olga Moreira
9781774691786
480 pages
Arcler Education Inc
Overview
“Statistical Mechanics and Entropy” is an edited book consisting of 16 contemporaneous open-access articles that highlight different aspects of the definition of entropy in statistical mechanics and other fields. The book includes a reflection on the real physical meaning of thermodynamic entropy, and several misconceptions regarding the violation of the second law of thermodynamics by perpetual motion machines, Maxwell’s demon, vortex tube, etc. It overviews the concept of generalized Boltzmann-Gibbs entropy in dynamical systems (e.g. Kolmogorov–Sinai entropy), information theory (e.g. Rényi and Shannon entropies), and statistical physics (e.g. Tsallis entropy). It includes quantum modifications and extensions of equilibrium statistical mechanics. Fundamental laws of nature and thermodynamics are expanded from classical simple systems to quantum systems, as well as to more complex systems in biology, cosmology, economy and communication networks.
Reading this book requires some knowledge in thermodynamics, calculus and differential equations. This book is intended to reach an academic audience ranging from undergraduate students to experienced researchers.
Author Bio
Olga Moreira is a Ph.D. in Astrophysics and B.Sc. in Physics and Applied Mathematics. She is an experienced technical writer and researcher which former fellowships include postgraduate positions at two of the most renown European institutions in the fields of Astrophysics and Space Science (the European Southern Observatory, and the European Space Agency). Presently, she is an independent scientist working on projects involving machine learning and neural networks research as well as peer-reviewing and edition of academic books.
