Physics – Quantum Physics
Scientific paper
2006-12-27
Physics
Quantum Physics
Latex 15 pages, submitted for the Proceedings of the Conference 'Particles and Fields: Classical and Quantum' held in honor of
Scientific paper
We discuss and motivate the form of the generator of a nonlinear quantum dynamical group 'designed' so as to accomplish a unification of quantum mechanics (QM) and thermodynamics. We call this nonrelativistic theory Quantum Thermodynamics (QT). Its conceptual foundations differ from those of (von Neumann) quantum statistical mechanics (QSM) and (Jaynes) quantum information theory (QIT), but for thermodynamic equilibrium (TE) states it reduces to the same mathematics, and for zero entropy states it reduces to standard unitary QM. The nonlinear dynamical group of QT is construed so that the second law emerges as a theorem of existence and uniqueness of a stable equilibrium state for each set of mean values of the energy and the number of constituents. It implements two fundamental ansatzs. The first is that in addition to the standard QM states described by idempotent density operators (zero entropy), a strictly isolated system admits also states that must be described by non-idempotent density operators (nonzero entropy). The second is that for such additional states the law of causal evolution is determined by the simultaneous action of a Schroedinger-von Neumann-type Hamiltonian generator and a nonlinear dissipative generator which conserves the mean values of the energy and the number of constituents, and (in forward time) drives any density operator, no matter how far from TE, in the 'direction' of steepest entropy ascent (maximal entropy increase). The equation of motion can be solved not only in forward time, to describe relaxation towards TE, but also backwards in time, to reconstruct the 'ancestral' or primordial lowest entropy state or limit cycle from which the system originates.
No associations
LandOfFree
Positive Nonlinear Dynamical Group Uniting Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Positive Nonlinear Dynamical Group Uniting Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Positive Nonlinear Dynamical Group Uniting Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-335177