Litcius/Paper detail

The demons haunting thermodynamics

Katie Robertson

2021Physics Today24 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF

Abstract

The contradictory implications of statistical mechanics have worried physicists and philosophers for centuries. Does our present-day knowledge allow us to exorcize those philosophical demons?

Topics & Concepts

ThermodynamicsPhysicsStatistical physicsMaterials scienceAdvanced Thermodynamics and Statistical MechanicsQuantum Mechanics and ApplicationsStatistical Mechanics and Entropy