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Entropy, Extropy and the Physical Driver of Irreversibility

Author

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  • Attila Grandpierre

    (Schmid College of Science, Center of Excellence in Applied Computational and Fundamental Science, Chapman University)

Abstract

We point out that the fundamental irreversibility of Nature requires the introduction of a suitable measure for the distance from equilibrium. We show that entropy, which is widely held to be such a measure, suffers from the problem that it does not have a physical meaning, since it is introduced on the basis of mathematical arguments. As a consequence, the basic physics beyond irreversibility has remained obscure. We present here a simple but transparent physical approach for solving the problem of irreversibility. This approach shows that extropy, the fundamental thermodynamic variable introduced by Katalin Martinás, is the suitable measure for the distance from equilibrium, since it corresponds to the actual driver of irreversible processes. Since extropy explicitly contains in its definition all the general thermodynamic forces that drive irreversible processes, extropy is the suitable physical measure of irreversibility.

Suggested Citation

  • Attila Grandpierre, 2012. "Entropy, Extropy and the Physical Driver of Irreversibility," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 10(2), pages 73-79.
    • Handle: RePEc:zna:indecs:v:10:y:2012:i:2:p:73-79
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Katalin Martinás & Attila Grandpierre, 2007. "Thermodynamic Measure for Nonequilibrium Processes," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 5(1), pages 1-13.
    2. Gaveau, B. & Martinás, K. & Moreau, M. & Tóth, J., 2002. "Entropy, extropy and information potential in stochastic systems far from equilibrium," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 305(3), pages 445-466.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    extropy; irreversibility; entropy; equilibrium; non-equilibrium; thermodynamics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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