Battle between quantum and thermodynamic laws heats up

Castelvecchi, Davide

doi:10.1038/543597a

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…where ζ − n denotes a transition point in the region of the phase space in which v 0 = −|v 0 |. In a similar way, if v 0 = |v 0 | then L 1 is given by (6) and a transition point in the positive region is given by…”

Section: Aheadmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The origins of the irreversibility of macroscopic systems, whose components follow the reversible laws of mechanics, are an open topic of discussion [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Undoubtedly, one of the factors that make the topic so complex is the description of the degrees of freedom of the large amount of particles that compose a macroscopic system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Work done on a single-particle gas during an adiabatic compression and expansion process

2019

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We compute the average work done by an external agent, driving a piston at constant speed, over a single particle gas going through an adiabatic compression and expansion process. To do so, we get the analytical expression relating the number of collisions between the piston and the particle with the position of the piston during the process. The ergodicity breaking of the system during the process is identified as the source of its irreversibility. In addition, we observe that by using particular initial distributions for the state of the particle, it is possible to preclude the possibility of a net energy transfer from the agent to the particle during the process.

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Section: Aheadmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work done on a single-particle gas during an adiabatic compression and expansion process

2019

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“…An intuitive and complete explanation for thermal conductivity is still elusive, as an accepted understanding of quantum thermodynamics is still under intense development and debate (Castelvecchi, 2017). This suggests that the concept has experienced a period of normal science for years, primarily focused on determining a numerical measure of thermal conductivity for various natural and synthesized materials.…”

Section: Thermal Conductivity As Scientific Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is impossible to tell how long the paradigm surrounding and enabling this interpretation of thermal conductivity will last. With intense investigations underway in quantum thermodynamics (Castelvecchi, 2017), it's not inconceivable that alternate lexical structures will be invented to better characterize any of the three main graph components. Until or unless that happens, it is likely that the Comprehensive Review's certainties will continue to undergird the scientific facts of thermal conductivity of the elements.…”

Section: Ho Et Al'smentioning

confidence: 99%

What is the Thermal Conductivity of Copper? The Production of a Fact Through Scientific Forgetting

Hauser

2021

Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Tech

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What is the thermal conductivity of copper? This straightforward question leads to a fascinating instance of the production of scientific facts through documentation practices. Ho, Powell and Liley's 1974 The Thermal Conductivity of the Elements: A Comprehensive Review is examined as an artifact of scientific reference data production, and its answer to the initial question is traced to modern-day search engine results. A short history of the Center that produced the book and some initial research into its authors is provided.Kuhn's concepts of normal science and normic lexical structures are utilized to clarify the Comprehensive Review's functioning within the broader scientific fields in which it is utilized. Bowker's concepts of memory practices and the jussive Archive help identify the forgetting embedded in the production of reference data, producing what Star called global certainty. Far from impugning the internal validity of these scientific facts, this forgetting is shown to be licensed by scientific rigor. This paper presents a novel historically informed investigation of how documentation practices produce scientific facts, and connect these activities to modern-day knowledge graph information retrieval. The theoretical analyses provided show how scientifically licensed forgetting is a key mechanism of fact production, what Hayles termed constrained constructivism.

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“…This ties in with the idea that life exhibits negative entropy [14], which via quantum mechanics, leads to the emergence of a new field of "quantum biology" [15]. The sixth concept is the importance of integrating the fields of thermodynamics and quantum physics as "quantum thermodynamics" [16]; life must certainly obey principles of both thermodynamics and quantum physics [17]. Thus information is a key to life, as it enables time awareness by learning from the past to predict the future.…”

Section: Introduction To Cognitive Hormesismentioning

confidence: 99%

The Hormesis of Thinking: A Deeper Quantum Thermodynamic Perspective?

Nunn¹,

Guy²,

Bell³

2017

Int J Neurorehabilitation Eng

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We are able to read this because of quantum and thermodynamic principles that via an inorganic proton gradient, possibly generated 4.2 billion years ago, gave rise to a system that has an awareness of time and space by using energy to integrate information. Life can be described as a dissipative system driven by an energy gradient that uses information to positively reinforce its self-sustaining structure, which in turn increases its non-linear decisional capacity. Key in the evolution of life has been stress coupled to natural selection, which usually meant an increased demand for energy. As hormesis describes the adaptive response to stress, we propose that hormesis embraces not only the evolution of life, but that of intelligence itself, as natural selection would favour systems that enhances its efficiency. A component of the hormetic response in eukaryotes is the mitochondrion, which itself relies on quantum effects such as tunnelling. This suggests that quantum effects control the stability of individual cells as well as long-lived cellular networks. Hormesis, which can be anti-inflammatory, is therefore key in maintaining the functional stability of complex systems, including the brain. In contrast, a lack of classical hormetic factors, such as physical activity, plant polyphenols, or calorie restriction, will lead to accelerated cognitive decline, which is associated with increased inflammation. However, there may be another previously unidentified factor that could also be considered hormetic, and that is thinking itself. Here we propose that the process of "thinking", and managing complex movement, induces "stress" in the neuronal system and is therefore in itself part of maintaining cognitive health and reserve throughout life. In effect, the right amount of thinking and information processing can beneficially induce adaptation, and this itself could be explainable by quantum thermodynamics.

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Battle between quantum and thermodynamic laws heats up

Abstract: The debate over how the laws of heat and energy apply at the quantum level is hotting up.Steam engines convert heat into work; physicists are debating the rules that govern how quantum-level machines could do the same thing.

Cited by 14 publications

References 4 publications

Work done on a single-particle gas during an adiabatic compression and expansion process

Work done on a single-particle gas during an adiabatic compression and expansion process

What is the Thermal Conductivity of Copper? The Production of a Fact Through Scientific Forgetting

The Hormesis of Thinking: A Deeper Quantum Thermodynamic Perspective?

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