On the Spectral Entropy of Thermodynamic Paths for Elementary Systems
Department of Chemistry, Loyola University Chicago, 6525 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA
Entropy 2009, 11(4), 1025-1041; https://doi.org/10.3390/e11041025
Received: 13 October 2009 / Accepted: 27 November 2009 / Published: 7 December 2009
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Information and Entropy)
Systems do not elect thermodynamic pathways on their own. They operate in tandem with their surroundings. Pathway selection and traversal require coordinated work and heat exchanges along with parallel tuning of the system variables. Previous research by the author (Reference [1]) focused on the information expressed in thermodynamic pathways. Examined here is how spectral entropy is a by-product of information that depends intricately on the pathway structure. The spectral entropy has proven to be a valuable tool in diverse fields. This paper illustrates the contact between spectral entropy and the properties which distinguish ideal from non-ideal gases. The role of spectral entropy in the first and second laws of thermodynamics and heat → work conversions is also discussed.
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Keywords:
entropy; information; thermodynamics; reversible transformations; fluid systems
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MDPI and ACS Style
Graham, D.J. On the Spectral Entropy of Thermodynamic Paths for Elementary Systems. Entropy 2009, 11, 1025-1041.
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