Axiomatic Information Thermodynamics
We present an axiomatic framework for thermodynamics that incorporates information as a fundamental concept. The axioms describe both ordinary thermodynamic processes and those in which information is acquired, used and erased, as in the operation of Maxwell’s demon. This system, similar to previous...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Entropy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/20/4/237 |
| _version_ | 1818007190670147584 |
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| author | Austin Hulse Benjamin Schumacher Michael D. Westmoreland |
| author_facet | Austin Hulse Benjamin Schumacher Michael D. Westmoreland |
| author_sort | Austin Hulse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present an axiomatic framework for thermodynamics that incorporates information as a fundamental concept. The axioms describe both ordinary thermodynamic processes and those in which information is acquired, used and erased, as in the operation of Maxwell’s demon. This system, similar to previous axiomatic systems for thermodynamics, supports the construction of conserved quantities and an entropy function governing state changes. Here, however, the entropy exhibits both information and thermodynamic aspects. Although our axioms are not based upon probabilistic concepts, a natural and highly useful concept of probability emerges from the entropy function itself. Our abstract system has many models, including both classical and quantum examples. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:12:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d5221b685c84dd8a47da3e9bb3e438b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1099-4300 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:12:26Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Entropy |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d5221b685c84dd8a47da3e9bb3e438b2022-12-22T02:10:29ZengMDPI AGEntropy1099-43002018-03-0120423710.3390/e20040237e20040237Axiomatic Information ThermodynamicsAustin Hulse0Benjamin Schumacher1Michael D. Westmoreland2Department of Physics, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH 43022, USADepartment of Physics, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH 43022, USADepartment of Mathematics, Denison University, Granville, OH 43023, USAWe present an axiomatic framework for thermodynamics that incorporates information as a fundamental concept. The axioms describe both ordinary thermodynamic processes and those in which information is acquired, used and erased, as in the operation of Maxwell’s demon. This system, similar to previous axiomatic systems for thermodynamics, supports the construction of conserved quantities and an entropy function governing state changes. Here, however, the entropy exhibits both information and thermodynamic aspects. Although our axioms are not based upon probabilistic concepts, a natural and highly useful concept of probability emerges from the entropy function itself. Our abstract system has many models, including both classical and quantum examples.http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/20/4/237axiomatic thermodynamicsinformationentropyMaxwell’s demon |
| spellingShingle | Austin Hulse Benjamin Schumacher Michael D. Westmoreland Axiomatic Information Thermodynamics Entropy axiomatic thermodynamics information entropy Maxwell’s demon |
| title | Axiomatic Information Thermodynamics |
| title_full | Axiomatic Information Thermodynamics |
| title_fullStr | Axiomatic Information Thermodynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Axiomatic Information Thermodynamics |
| title_short | Axiomatic Information Thermodynamics |
| title_sort | axiomatic information thermodynamics |
| topic | axiomatic thermodynamics information entropy Maxwell’s demon |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/20/4/237 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT austinhulse axiomaticinformationthermodynamics AT benjaminschumacher axiomaticinformationthermodynamics AT michaeldwestmoreland axiomaticinformationthermodynamics |