Physics – Condensed Matter – Statistical Mechanics
Scientific paper
2001-02-05
Found. Phys. 31, 713 - 731 (2001)
Physics
Condensed Matter
Statistical Mechanics
To appear in Foundations of Physics, Festschrift for Martin Gutzwiller
Scientific paper
10.1023/A:1017577211902
The emergence of macroscopic variables can be effected through {\it coarse graining}. Despite practical and fundamental benefits conveyed by this partitioning of state space, the apparently subjective nature of the selection of coarse grains has been considered problematic. We provide objective selection methods, deriving from the existence of relatively slow dynamical time scales. Using a framework for nonequilibrium statistical mechanics developed by us, we show the emergence of both spatial variables and order parameters. Although significant objective criteria are introduced in the coarse graining, we do not provide a unique prescription. Most significantly, the grains, and by implication entropy, are only defined modulo a characteristic time scale of observation.
Gaveau Bernard
Schulman Lawrence S.
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