Matter-Aggregating Systems at a Classical vs. Quantum Interface

Dear Colleagues,

Matter-aggregating systems, such as spin-involving (Ising, Potts, etc.), dipolar, percolating, or those prone to gelation and/or colloidal formations and self-assembly, to mention but a few, can be viewed as prerequisites of paradigmatic cluster/network formations, ranging from classical to quantum expositions.

There is no general statistical–physical or (soft) condensed matter theoretical description of matter aggregation as it is. However, a robust theoretical framework exists based on the nucleation–growth phase transition concept, entirely related to continuous (or second-order) phase transitions and/or order–disorder and polymorphic phase change concepts. The overall framework is based on the renormalization group approach, and it often employs the scaling concept as a foundation for cooperation with computer-simulation-related solutions to matter aggregation problems, considered near thermodynamic (fairly close to entropy maximum) equilibrium.

Another extremely relevant issue related to aggregation appears to be a reduction in the system’s physical–geometrical dimensionality (toward the nanoscale) and/or any natural involvement of the fractal dimension concept, also in terms of unveiling certain matter evolutions using kinetic/dynamic equations, having included the suitable fractional operators, on the one hand. On the other hand, stochastic descriptions of the Fokker–Planck and Smoluchowski kinetically envisaged aggregations are equally appropriate, especially at the mesoscale. At this point, the conception of mesoscopic nonequilibrium (entropy-production-based) thermodynamics should also be indicated. In addition, solving the problems using machine learning, and artificial intelligence techniques in general, would be an asset.

The challenge of the proposed Special Issue lies in thoroughly exploring the matter-aggregational outcomes of any type for which a classical–quantum interface is going to readily emerge as it is—for example, in the case of low-dimensional (nano)structures or complex classical–quantum (also biopolymeric) networks in which entanglement and bond creation effects prevail.

The collected articles have to unambiguously show that the linkage between the classical and quantum formations is worth exploring and may become very practical from the point of view of modern quantum (nano)technologies, with an emphasis placed on the nanoscale as the sovereign physical border between classical and quantum realms. The Special Issue is mainly addressed to statistical and soft condensed-matter physicists, chemical physics and physical chemistry (computational) specialists, as well as (bio)materials scientists and advanced technology engineers.

Prof. Dr. Adam Gadomski
Dr. Natalia Kruszewska
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Entropy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.