Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Aug 1982
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982sci...217..593f&link_type=abstract
Science, vol. 217, Aug. 13, 1982, 593-599.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
28
Astronomical Models, Cosmology, Entropy, Black Holes (Astronomy), Chaos, Expansion, Gravitational Effects, Positronium, Relaxation Time
Scientific paper
The evolution of organized structures from initial chaos in the expanding universe is demonstrated to be reconcilable with the second law of thermodynamics, and the effects of expansion and gravity on this problem are emphasized. Numerical estimates of the major sources of entropy increase are calculated, including the entropy increase in stars, the earth, black hole formation and decay, quantum tunneling of matter into black holes, positronium formation and decay, etc. An expanding 'causal' region is defined in which the entropy, though increasing, tends to fall further and further behind its maximum possible value, thus allowing for the development of order. That is, the classical heat death argument does not hold, because an expanding universe never achieves equilibrium and never reaches a constant temperature. Also considered are questions of whether entropy will continue increasing without limit in the future, and whether such increase in the form of Hawking radiation or radiation from positronium might enable life to maintain itself permanently. Attempts to find a scheme for preserving life based on solid structures fail because events such as quantum tunneling recurrently disorganize matter on a very long but fixed time scale.
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